Brooklyn school works to save landmark

Fourth-graders from P.S. 205 Clarion School, on 20th Ave., getting a close-up look at a 12-foot by 18-foot Betsy Ross flag near the famous Liberty Pole on the historic grounds of the New Utrecht Reformed Church in Bensonhurst. Assisting in one of the educational programs in the historic complex are staff members of the Brooklyn historic organization, Friends of Historic New Utrecht. (Photo by Friends of Historic New Utrecht)

Friends of Historic New Utrecht
New Utrecht Reformed Church

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fourth-graders Contribute - and Learn - at Brooklyn Historic Site

BROOKLYN - P.S. 205 Clarion School, on 20th Ave., is putting the school's mission statement into practice as it pledges to help save one of Brooklyn's most treasured landmarks, the New Utrecht Reformed Church building on 18th Ave. and 84th St. in Bensonhurst.

The stone and wood structure, dating back to 1828, is the focus of a nearly $2 million campaign to pay for repair and restoration. Scaffolding erected recently on the outside shows that progress is being made since the building was closed in December 2003.

About 30 students and staff from P.S. 205 took a page from their mission statement when they visited the historic site and were met by Robert Buonvino, president of the Friends of Historic New Utrecht. The statement says: "P.S. 205 is dedicated to the creation of a synergetic educational environment where students, teachers, administrators, parents and community work hard together as a family, to build strong, confident and independent learners who excel."

"That's what we found when I met the students at the front gate," Mr. Buonvino says. "The fourth-graders were eager to learn all they can about New Utrecht's history in Brooklyn as a 'cradle of liberty;' they raised a 12-foot by 18-foot Betsy Ross flag on the Liberty Pole." The 106- foot pole, the last of its kind in the nation, sits on the church's front lawn. The first such pole was placed there in 1783 when the British had left.

P.S. 205's mission statement also recognizes that "children have different learning styles, ability levels, challenges, life experiences, family backgrounds and cultures," and the school designs learning experiences with that in mind. "We spoke of the significance of the flagpole to the United States, and I asked how many of the students were born in another country, and many hands went up," Mr. Buonvino said. "We spoke of how our parents or grandparents or greatgrandparents came as immigrants, many seeking freedom of religion and a better life for their children."

He said the countries where the Brooklyn fourth-graders had family ties included Malaysia, Egypt, Ecuador, Italy, Lithuania, Pakistan, Israel, China, South Korea, Ireland, Mexico and Russia. "More evidence that Brooklyn is a tremendously diverse borough," the historian said. "As we spoke of migration over the years and immigration and the significance of the American flag, we told the students about the history of the New Utrecht community and visited the church's 1654 cemetery, where many Dutch settlers are buried."

As part of their vow to keep in contact with the Friends organization to save the historic site, P.S. 205 students voted to make a $500 contribution to the Friends of Historic New Utrecht educational program. Through a "Penny Harvest," students collect pennies from friends, families and neighbors that they vote to spend for the benefit of the community.

"These young citizens are fully behind helping us save these historic Brooklyn grounds for future generations," Mr. Buonvino said. "Hopefully, that will serve as an inspiration, especially to others living in the parts of the borough that were in the old town of New Utrecht."

P.S. 205's mission statement also tells of designing "learning experiences that are standards driven with the expectation that each student will be empowered for life with the desire to search for knowledge." With the assistance of Principal Beth Grater and Parent Coordinator Joyce Fisher, Mr. Buonovino said, the school and the historic organization are finding new ways to enhance the organization's educational-cultural programs. Among its other contributions, P.S. 205 is looking into developing a video documentary on the progress of the restoration.

More information on the history of New Utrecht is available at (718) 256-7173 and (718) 234-9268 and www.historicnewutrecht.org and www.newutrechtchurch.org.

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Public relations services donated by bhprEspeciallyForChurches June 2006