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We do not seek to convert others to the religion of Quakers also known as the Society of Friends. It has grown from eleven schools to over one hundred sixty schools. Editors note: This article was written before the COVID-19 pandemic. As people settle into quiet reflection, they discover an oasis away from the noise and motion of life. Friends schools operate on the founding Quaker principles of equality and diversity, and Friends schools seek to maintain financial aid programs to ensure accessibility, affordability, and socio-economic diversity.. Friends schools value and embrace the diversity of cultures and religions in their communities. More about NEPSAC and private school sports here. Very good emotional appeal for maintaining a proven means towards a better world. How Can an Educational Consultant Help with a Boarding School Search? Quaker schools have been educating with love and radical empathy for over 350 years, one heart at a time. We value all differences. A Friends school education is not limited to campus life but is enhanced by getting out into the local community for service projects or traveling to far-off places like China or Peru to learn a language or build a school. Here is a list of some of the schools, materials, libraries, and continuing educational opportunities for Friends today. Community members enter the Meeting House a building with no religious symbols or decoration in silence. Quakers founded Happy Grove School in Jamaica, now a government school retaining some Quaker traditions. Leading the Change is the most far-reaching strategic plan in our school's history, yet I have never been more confident in our community's ability to accomplish our goals. Corporal Punishment is Still Legal in Many States, https://www.privateschoolreview.com/blog/religious-schools-an-overview, https://www.privateschoolreview.com/blog/what-strength-do-you-want-your-childs-religious-education-to-be, School Marketing SEO: To Do and What Not to Do. Often known for their focus on peace and non-violence, Quakers believe that there is that of God (or good) in everyone, referred to as the Inner Light. Belief in each individual's infinite inherent worth or Inner Light is a core belief from which other Quaker principles and practices flow. Through this process students gain skills and competencies to live lives that make a difference. A Sandy Spring classroom balances disciplined academic discourse with experiential and outdoor activities. Quaker-Based Decision Making workshop with educators from Mary McDowell Friends School in Brooklyn, N.Y. In Philadelphia, home to the oldest Quaker school in the world, public schools face a $1 billion budget hole over the next five years. Students need to be able to see themselves reflected in the adult community in which they learn and grow. Through a commitment to service, we graduate students who are empathetic, collaborative, and reflective. With that equality comes transparency, and with both comes a confidence in student interactions with teachers, administrators, and adults in general. Teachers as partners in the learning process. Apple is one company with a long-standing commitment to making products for everyone, and its intriguing to watch the company develop innovative solutions aimed at empowering all individuals to use its products with greater ease and independence. The BSU banded together to encourage community members to share their commitment to social justice and #BlackLivesMatter. I too recognize that Quakers are receding in number very rapidly. Tour the new Upper School building by watching a video of the 3D model, or watch the live feed of the construction site. Friends schools believe that education is preparation for the whole of life: the lively development of intellectual, physical, and social-emotional capacities as well as those of the spirit. Discover the latest news and features from Friends Journal. Visit our website at www.westtown.edu to learn more. The Quaker School at Horsham's Upper School is the ideal place for students with complex challenges to transition into adulthood. Founded in 1883, the School is a non-profit, tax-exempt institution governed by an independent Board of Truste Students are full of questions and enter into long and profound inquiries into matters; they advocate for themselves. At the heart of Friends principles is a commitment to equity and inclusivity. Friends Council on Education offers programs that nurture the Quaker character of Friends schools and foster equity, community, and social justice. Statistics show that 27.6% of people click on the first result they see on Google. 2408 Quaker Church Road is currently listed for $699,000 and was received on July 28, 2023. Because we are guided by Quaker principles, we are committed to education that focuses on: While Quaker values are inherent in all we do, we do not proselytize. We start with the heart and . So, the burning question is: How can you position your school in that coveted #1 spot? Connecticut Friends School. These schools are examples of what Friends schools across the country are doing to push the boundaries concerning anti-racist work through hiring practices and training of staff. What is a post-graduate year? Together, we expand our vision of social justice to prepare our students to be in the world, as well as to serve it. Friends school teachers are facilitators of the learning process, using dialogue, reflection, and inquiry as tools for learning in the classroom. Lancaster Friends School All those present are welcomed to stand and speak if they feel moved or inspired. Interviews with teachers confirmed the perspectives of students. Students from a wide range of faiths, as well as those without a religious tradition, gather strength from this communal time together. The Learning Resource Collaborative (LRC) is a partnership of professionals at Sandy Spring Friends School committed to the competency, success, and joy of all learners in our community. Whose values are really being taught? Friends schools are also leading the way in creating inclusive environments for transgender and non-binary students. SIMPLICITY. Menu. A Quaker education can be characterized by the following principles*: Taken from "Teaching Tolerance and Valuing Diversity," by Irene McHenry, former Executive Director, Friends Council on Education. These are fundamental pieces of who we are as a school. Many teachers referred to their sense of freedom to teach students as individuals, without feeling pressured by evaluations. Your email address will not be published. Gender-inclusive curriculums and readings are being developed to provide windows and mirrors to reflect the broad range of identities. Friends schools offer community engagement programs that encourage students, faculty, and families to be active in the world; to serve others; and to let their lives speak.. Some are very well established and highly thought of both the Clintons and the Obamas sent their children to a Quaker establishment, Sidwell Friends School, from the White House. At Plainfield Schools, we pride ourselves on having outstanding teachers. Critical inquiry is a deeply held Quaker value and informs how we approach teaching and learning at AFS. We found that students who were more likely to study without being told to and who enjoyed and took more interest in their subjects were the ones who also saw their schools as places characterised by friendliness, an equalitarian ethos and somewhere they rarely felt pressured. - New Garden Friends School What Does It Mean To Be a Friends School? Tuition and Financial Aid - Sidwell Friends School (SFS) is a PK-12, co-educational Quaker day school with campuses in Washington, DC and Bethesda, MD. By living it! The Quaker tenet of stewardship shapes the Sidwell Friends community, from the design of our school buildings to the food our students eat each day. Friends schools have learned the importance of ongoing professional development programs focused on diversity, inclusivity, and equity. Choosing a School: Which school offers..? The Show is the culminating event for the Upper School choreography class, ChoreoLab, which is . Each week, students and faculty in all divisions gather for Meeting for Worship. Drew Smith, Deborra Sines Pancoe, and Elisabeth Torg, Sparks and Spaces: Lived Experience in Friends Schools, We sit in circles. Contact or call us, and we will gladly provide you with more information. Our students are . Several schools in New York have participated and additional offerings are to come. Because Quaker education endeavors to be a socially responsible one, Friends schools curricula emphasize service, social action, and experiential learning. In place of formal doctrine, students collaboratively generate guiding questions, or queries, as a means to examine their lives and measure their actions. She went on to praise one school which promotes inclusiveness, and another where a values-focused thought each day informs teaching. Educators in Friends schools believe that one is not developed at the expense of the other; instead, they work in tandem to prepare students for college and for life. Students worldviews are expanded by deep explorations of a multiplicity of voices in history, literature, religion, and art. At Sidwell Friends, exploring and confronting questions of race, equality, and empowerment shape how we teach and learn. In todays ever-changing world, a values-based education is more important than ever. It is through this silence, even because of it, that those of any faith can worship in this setting. In Quaker schools, we expect children to practice radical empathy. face on a daily basis, both in and outside of the classroom. We offer 5- and 7-day boarding options for students in the Upper School. Cultivating membership for these families will be critically important for the future of this Quaker meeting. Get free news and updates from Friends Journal and our QuakerSpeak video series. Friends Council on Education brings together all 78 Quaker primary schools in the United States. Schools across the nationQuaker schools, independent schools, public schools, and collegesare all facing multiple challenges, including budget constraints, funding cuts, attracting and retaining faculty, rising costs of benefits, rapidly changing technology, and safety and security issues, all while striving to create a climate in which an increasingly diverse student population can thrive. All students have Meeting for Worship 1 to 2 times each week, depending on the division. Quakers have had a passion for education for a very long time. Founded in 1799 by the Religious Society of Friends. Sidwell Friends School - Wikipedia The founders of Cornell and Johns Hopkins were also inspired by the Quaker approach to education. We put students first. Gene Klein leaves an indelible stamp on Pittsburgh soccer scene Do I have to be a Quaker to go to a Friends School? In fact, at most Quaker institutions, including Friends Academy, only a small portion of the population is Quaker. Sidwell Friends School is a Quaker school located in Bethesda, Maryland and Washington, D.C., offering pre-kindergarten through high school classes.Founded in 1883 by Thomas W. Sidwell, its motto is "Eluceat omnibus lux" (English: Let the light shine out from all), alluding to the Quaker concept of inner light.All Sidwell Friends students attend Quaker meeting for worship weekly, and middle . Students are encouraged by word and by example to respect the talents and perspectives of others and include them in a cooperative search for knowledge. Spielman may be on to something in her desire to see values play an important role in school education. Community outreach programs guide students to go further in their actions, creating relationships in the wider community with structured reflection when back in class. They are encouraged to use their talents and enthusiasm to seek solutions for a just and compassionate future. Hear from our students about why they love coming to SSFS. Friends schools continue to take courageous and principled stands to counteract trends of institutionalized racism in our society. That said, Friends are not content to only issue statements about injustice. When is the right time to attend boarding school? Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quaker schools. They believe the Inner Light, or God, is in each of us. "It would not be hard at all to build an argument that . As a Friends school in the nations capital, we prepare our students to see themselves as citizens of the world. Whether they are collecting waste for recycling in Lower School, studying how their building treats wastewater in Middle School, or composting food scraps in the Upper School dining room, our students learn to see their own impact on the natural world. Upper School Principal. Some are very well established and highly thought of . We seek growth and innovation. Simplicity. School Social Worker (Special Education) at The Quaker School There is no minister or sermon. The CfPPs work aligns with Penn Charters Quaker values and curriculum and creates structures that inspire students to take ownership of their own learning experience. Quaker Self-Study Job Openings Friends Council Member Schools & Organizations Browse the recent openings in Quaker schools. We focus on conflict resolution, restorative justice, and building and repairing relationships. What prompts somebody to start a boarding school? This budgetary dilemma for Friends schools is a values-oriented decision. Respecting others views and voices is a priority. With its primary concern for maintaining the Quaker identity of Friends schools, Friends Council on Education is addressing this financial pressure through the establishment of the National Friends Education Fund to provide tuition assistance for qualifying Quaker families to make it possible for Quaker children to attend Friends schools. They're also experts in specific things. Quakers . . Silence and reflection are woven into the academic process, leading to deeper learning and understanding. FCE is committed to the independence of its member schools, affirming the variety and diversity of these schools and supporting their prerogative to offer an extensive range of curricula and programs, to select quality teachers who meet their criteria, and to create values-based learning communities based on the unique educational missions of their schools. At Sidwell Friends, truth is not a rigid set of facts imparted from teacher to student. In America, Quaker education began in 1689 with the founding of William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and continues with the newest Friends school, International Friends School in Bellevue, Washington, in 2017. Students are called upon to discover their own voices and interests. Often families with transgender and non-binary students encounter hostile school environments for their children. Whether in the classroom or in weekly silent worship, all voices are honored as our community of learners seeks truth together. At SSFS, we have a profound sense of hope in the individual's ability to create positive change within the world, and we foster the values that create change: These values are sometimes referred to by their acronym, the Quaker SPICES. It is evident in the small moments that make up our days. Inaugural Quaker Con Was A Huge Success! | Plainfield Community School When asked about Westtowns greatest strengths, young alums often talk about the quality of the academic program and a profound sense of community. Families seek out schools with supportive policies and practices and an inclusive mindset and some are choosing to move their transgender or non-binary student to a Friends school for that kind of environment. Friends schools are engaging in forward-thinking, dynamic anti-racist work and are leading the way with work on gender identity by creating inclusive environments for transgender and non-binary students. Friends Council continues to provide counsel to school trustees around strategic planning, Quaker decision making, and more. One way Friends schools are addressing this challenge is to consistently offer generous tuition assistance to help families meet rising costs. What is a Quaker School? - Quaker Community - Delaware Valley Friends The Quaker belief of the Inner Light or that of God in each of us creates an atmosphere of acceptance and openness. More personalized instruction and the opportunity for parents to be intimately involved in their childrens educational journey are also traits parents may be searching for in a school. Quakers believe that there is that of God in everyonethat goodness and dignity are inherent in all human beings. A significant piece of the truth about the boarding schools is held by the Christian churches that collaborated with the federal government's policy of forced assimilation. It is a foundation that holds firm despite the winds of change and societal turmoil. Here is a list of some of the schools, materials, libraries, and continuing educational opportunities for Friends today. As the only K-12 Quaker school on Long Island, Friends Academy provides an unparalleled combination of academic excellence and enduring values. The Quaker School is a Place Where Children Blossom Here, children with complex challenges become confident learners, blossoming socially, academically and behaviorally as they discover the simple joys of childhood. Schools must attract and keep faculty as well as retain families. Westtown is culturally, religiously, racially, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse and we are deeply enriched by this diversity. For more than 325 years, Friends schools have been recognized for fine academics as well as a whole-child approach to intellectual and moral development. Through the civic engagement of service learning, students build and value relationships with others so that an appreciation of the similarities and differences across humanity can be experienced. esr.earlham.edu. Our students graduate not only with skills and knowledge but with an internal set of queries to guide them.