January 5, 2012

Dear Families,

The BNS community extends condolences to the family of former BNS and BCS student, Mehdi Harizzi. Mehdi died last week as the result of a hiking accident in Arizona. Mehdi was 21 years old. Mehdi's younger brother, Nigel Autry, graduated from BNS in 2010. Our heartfelt condolences to Heidi, Marvin, Nigel, and little sister welcomed to the family in June.

A memorial service will be held for Mehdi on Sunday, January 8th, at 1pm at Old First Reform Church, located on the corner of 7th Ave. and Carroll St. in Park Slope.

The family suggests bringing a candle or anything that reminds you of your true eternal spiritual nature. Please also bring a potluck dish.
 

All for now,

Alyce and Anna

From Anna:
In light of the devastating news about one of our former students, it’s difficult to reflect on the day to day issues that come up in schools. Just before vacation, Steve’s third grade class was thinking of powerful words to put on their holiday wreath. Shiloh Gonsky suggested, “Always have courage for laughter.” I’ve been thinking about her wisdom the entire vacation and am moved to apply Shiloh’s advice. As we deal with the day to day life of school, as we worry and wonder about our children’s successes and failures, as we grieve, as we lament the lack of funds, large class size and busing issues (among others), I, for one, will be looking for the courage for laughter. And because I am privileged to work in a school with children, I will get to laugh every day, sharing in the joy in our students’ faces.

In December the fifth grade went to MOMA to see the de Kooning and Rivera exhibits. This week I told them about a day in my life in 1976 when I was a student at Pratt Institute, the day that I met and drank coffee with Willem de Kooning. How exciting to be in his studio surrounded by bowls of paint, phenomenal canvases, and erased drawings. I think of moments like that and hope that, like Shiloh, I can always have the courage for laughter.

From Alyce:
Yesterday we welcomed back to BCS students from the first three graduating classes: our annual Alumni Return Day. Steve Simons opened with a moment of silence for us to remember Mehdi and passed around a blank book for us to share and save memories for Mehdi’s family. His peers remembered Mehdi as a caring friend and several of them are helping to plan his memorial.

Nothing helps me understand the passage of time better than talking with former students, now adults. They are themselves, but time and experience have made them intellectually larger, wiser, more thoughtful. Thrilled to see each other, reminisce, and tell tales of time at college and work, they filled our cafeteria and ate much less pizza than they would have when they were in high school. The wonders of Facebook brought back a few students, now in college, who attended BCS only for middle school. For them as well, the connection is still strong. And tomorrow night, alumni Najee Brown, and current senior Daniel Smith, will produce a benefit performance to fund an arts after school program they hope to establish at BCS.