State College Friends School

A word from the Head of School

Dear Friends,

What makes a Quaker school different? Why should I send my child to Friends School? These questions often surface at this time of year, with re-enrollment dates right around the corner. Of course, no school is quite like another, but Quaker schools do have strands of commonalities running through the fabric of each school, weaving together strong academics and a values system which hopefully makes a positive difference in the lives of all the young people who pass through our doors. In a nutshell, Friends education challenges the mind and nourishes the spirit.

The Friends Council on Education, the only national organization of Friends Schools, of which State College Friends School is a member, has the following description of Friends education on its website. (www.friendscouncil.org)

"Friends believe that each person has the capacity for goodness and a responsibility to attain that goodness. Friends schools believe that education is the preparation for the whole of life: the lively development of intellectual, physical, and social-emotional capacities as well as those of the spirit. Friends school teachers are facilitators of the learning process, using dialogue, reflection and inquiry as tools for learning in the classroom. The Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship are deeply embedded in the curricula and school culture. Students learn that all of life is sacred and resonates with meaning."

Such an environment, one in which deep thought is given as to what kinds of persons its members are becoming and what goals and motives are effective in their lives, can only be accomplished with the cooperation and facilitation of a dedicated, committed and caring faculty and staff. Teachers who go the extra mile to plan a wide range of curriculum supported field trips along with in and out-of-class adventures. Pursuits which are widely varied and go beyond the basic objective of a broad based education to the development of the whole person. Our community of learners at State College Friends School emphasizes mutual esteem, encouragement and participation. We support individual excellence, equal rights of all people, and that all people have that of God within them and are worthy of dignity and respect.

What can you expect from a State College Friends School education? --an environment that nurtures wonder--the consideration of the developmental level of each child--unconditional love--trust in our children--the provision of accurate information and relevant skills--listening to our students--giving our students time to marvel, to search, to seek and to think--encouragement--personal affirmations--a system of values in place--strong academics--care, concern, and commitment from our teachers, our administrators and our staff.

These are the things that make a Quaker school different. This is why your child belongs at Friends School.

Dear Friends,

Recently, I read an excerpt from a Quaker publication, London Yearly Meeting (1946), ".The whole community should live together in friendship, each one recognizing the special position held by the others, and the contribution required from each for the perfection of the common life." While thinking about this quote, I connected it to a statement from the Friends Council on Education website which states that Friends schools hope to create an environment within which students, teachers, parents, and volunteers alike can continue to mature as companions in a wide range of experiences. These views are supported and practiced at State College Friends School. We view learning as a process of exploration and self-discovery, through which children build their skills and knowledge through personal experience and by working with teachers and with fellow students. We not only believe this, we apply this.

Last week allowed me my first opportunity to participate in Friends School's annual Theme Week, with this year's theme of "Reducing our Footprints". Grouped by interests with all ages intermixed, our student groups mapped Friends School trees, created reusable tote bags, perfected their gardening and composting skills, interpreted the story of the universe, counted food miles while learning about the benefits of local foods, built and used solar ovens, became "Green Detectives", and created the R-TEAM (reduce, reuse, recycle).

All students also had the opportunity to take part in a Literature Group accompanied by their "reading buddy". Students and teachers read books about our planet earth and the environment, completed an activity related to the book, and became well acquainted with students from across the grade levels. I had the great pleasure of reading and discussing Old Turtle, by Douglas Wood, with my new friends, Shant & Paul, Griffen & Seppi, Zoe & Taline, and Aidan & Chris. These reading buddies and I analyzed turtle and tortoise shells, handled replicas of emerging baby box turtles, and compared an alligator skull to a tortoise shell! All this was done within the context of the theme of Old Turtle, understanding our earth and our relationship with all the beings that inhabit it.

Friday's Meeting for Worship took place at the State College Friends Meeting House and our children rode the bus with their reading buddy. Hand-in-hand they silently entered the Meeting House, eyes wide with wonder. They were greeted by a warm fire and the silence of a cold winter day. Meeting was more vocal than usual, with our young friends speaking about the earth and about their appreciation of attending Friends School, and our teachers speaking of caring for the earth, for each other, and for ourselves. Joyful singing of "This Pretty Planet" resonated throughout the Meeting House followed, as always, by "As We Leave this Friendly Place."

Our school community became a bit "greener" throughout the week as our children and adults worked together in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect, all toward the goal of walking softly upon the earth. As we enter the Holiday Season, I wish you and your families much health, happiness, and peace. I look forward to my work with you in 2008.

Dear Friends,

Every autumn a professional wonderment occurs in the world of Quaker education. Heads of Friends Schools from across the nation gather together for two days of sharing, reflection, and recommitment. This year, fifty-one enthusiastic and dedicated Quaker educators from twenty-one states, generously shared their experiences, expertise, successes, dreams, and yes, even a few frustrations!

Organized annually by the Friends Council on Education, this year's meeting was held in Manhattan and was jointly hosted by Brooklyn Friends School, the Mary McDowell Center for Learning, and the Friends Seminary. Visits to these three Quaker institutions provided my colleagues and me the opportunity to see Friends education in action in a major metropolitan area and to compare and contrast methods of operations at our own schools. Although Quaker schools vary in locations, populations, and building structures, (the Mary McDowell Center resides in a renovated five-story cheese factory), our shared strength is that for over 350 years Quaker education has continued to excel in providing a unique combination of stimulating academics, spiritual depth, and loving values.

Our featured speaker this year, Father Michael Sheeran, President of Regis University in Denver, Colorado, author of Beyond Majority Rule, and renowned scholar on the Quaker decision-making process, presented a compelling presentation on the relationship and similarities between the Jesuit and Quaker traditions. This thought-provoking presentation and discussion explored group-centered decision making in today's society with reflection upon Quakerism's possible significance for the future of American society. Parallels and similarities to unanimous consent, deliberations of corporate boards, and a need in today's society to have the ability to participate in decision making in a satisfying way were presented through a social theory context.

Meeting sessions grouped Heads of Schools by similar school size and grade levels and our time was spent in deep, thoughtful conversations. Discussions included common threads of educational concerns, (admissions, tuition, fundraising, curriculum, etc.), the brainstorming of problem-solving techniques, and reaffirmation of our commitment to our individual schools and to the strengths and principles of Quaker education.

The professional development opportunities provided by the Annual Heads Gathering go far beyond that of networking with other Heads; it is a time for the discovery of truth and the emergence of spiritual insight from ongoing reflection within a gathered community.