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I just spent a delightful hour listening to explanations about everything from local fossil hunting to Mothman, the pitfalls of hand washing to poop (and the digestive tract), energy sources to Nudibranchs, Ash Borer Beetles to “seedtopia,”and that is to name just a few topics! Of course, I am describing my visit to the Science Fair, a favorite event at Friends School. This year, we had over 30 participants with interesting, wellresearched projects. The students’ faces glow with pride as they share what they have learned or explain their research techniques. The passion they have for their chosen project is apparent and their knowledge impressive.
The Science Fair is a wonderful opportunity for students to follow their own individual interests and delve deeply into a topic of choice. For some, it is a chance to ask a question, develop a hypothesis, design and perform an experiment, examine results, and draw conclusions. For others, it is an opportunity to look more deeply into something about which they are curious. Still others shared information about something about which they thought their audience should be aware. Students created graphs and charts to share their findings; made models and dioramas; brought in stuffed and plastic animals; shared photographs; invited fellow students to experiment, create, and hypothesize; and illustrated and wrote about their topic of choice. No matter how students chose to share information, the results were remarkable. The testimonies of simplicity and integrity were exemplified today as well. This was a children’s science fair, and this was apparent. Although it was clear that parents had been helpful (thank you, parents), the work and the explanations were the students. Student handwriting, illustrations, organization, and learning abounded. It was clear that the students were enthusiastic and cared about their projects. This was learning at its best—student directed and adult supported. The learning and inspiration continued at the fair with the participants becoming the teachers and their peers the learners—attentive learners at that! Tr. Lisa ANNOUNCEMENTS Meeting For Worship and Right Sharing Lunch - On Sunday, March 26th, State College Friends Meeting will hold their Meeting for Worship at our school at 11:15 a.m. All are welcome. Directly following Meeting, we will host a Right Sharing Meal, with the help of our middle school students. This meal helps us consider right sharing of world resources and understand more deeply the disparity of resources around the world. Call the school by Thursday, March 23rd to make a reservation. In-service Child Care - In-service is right around the corner. Call the school by April 7 if you would like to reserve a spot for your child in child care. School Work Day - Please mark your calendars and save the date of Saturday, April 29, from 9:00 a.m. to noon for our all-school work day. With your help, we aim to install several playground improvements, tend our gardens, and get our booths ready for the school’s annual Fun Fair. We can use lots of help to get several important jobs done at the school. Please let Tr. Dan know if you are willing to help. An organizational meeting will be held soon. Summer Camp - Registration for summer camp for school families opened on Wednesday, February 15th. This year, all registration materials are available online. So, visit our Summer Camp Page and register- some camps are nearing capacity. Please let Jackie know if you have any questions. Fit Families - You are invited to participate in the Centre Moves Fit Families Challenge! The Fit Families Challenge is a month-long, countywide-challenge to get people moving. Just complete and log 15 workouts during the month of April to be eligible to win prizes! There is no time, activity, or place requirement for your workouts, so just get moving in any way you can! Families can register for the challenge at www.centremoves.org. They were lined up and waiting. It was time for our school's version of March Madness. It was our annual Blue/White game that ends our winter basketball program at Friends. I introduced our kids to the audience with playful names that they earned during the program. Harry was no longer just Ross but Harry "The Boss" Ross, Katie became Shake and Bake Kate, and Ben earned the moniker of The Raging Cajun.
Receiving their hoop names is all part of the fun of the Blue/White game. For the months of January and February, students in the 4th - 8th grade work with me and a a several volunteer coaches to improve their skills and learn more about the game of basketball. They learn proper techniques for dribbling, passing, and shootingalong with rules of the game. Most importantly, they get to play. Along with controlled scrimmages, we use drills and games to sharpen skills and make them better players. Their favorites are three-on-two drills, knock out, and steal the bacon. After all the Monday sessions, they get to participate in a live scrimmage with their teammates. I try to make two even teams and pit them against each other for a 4 quarter game. Volunteers Dana Stuchul and Todd Denlinger serve as team coaches and I try to be the referee. The students are pretty excited, and the play is fast and furious. However, I have noticed some important differences when our kids take the floor. First, I have never experienced a more honest bunch. I was often corrected on my calls by students from both teams who insisted I did not see the whole play. It was remarkable. As the game went on, if the ball went out of bounds, I would just blow the whistle and let them tell me whose ball it was. I also was amazed by the camaraderie demonstrated between teams as there was much cheering for everyone. The game was tight and as the game was winding down, it was tied. The White team was up by two but the Blue team had the ball and 12 seconds on the clock. They brought it down court and passed it near the bucket (8 seconds); then another pass to the outside and a shot (4 seconds). It missed, but white rebounded under the hoop and shot again. A few bounces on the rim and the ball bounced off and time expired. Another close game and a good time for all. The kids walk away with shirts, a memory, and a little more skill than they had before. Everybody won at the Blue/White game. ANNOUNCEMENTS Seems like we will have our annual spring snow tomorrow. Stay tuned! Open Houses - The following Open Houses are scheduled for the spring: First Wednesday of each month, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Walk Thru Wednesdays Saturday, March 18th, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm: K-8 & Pre-K Open Houses / Winter Play Day Saturday, April 29th, 9:30 – 11:30 am: Pre-K Open House Science Fair - Our school’s annual Science Fair will be held on Monday, March 20th. The announcement letter, along with guidelines and a registration form, went home in your child’s Friday Folder a few weeks ago (the packet may also be found on our Parent Portal). Meeting For Worship and Right Sharing Lunch - On Sunday, March 26th, State College Friends Meeting will hold their Meeting for Worship at our school at 11:15 a.m. All are welcome. Directly following Meeting, we will host a Right Sharing Meal, with the help of our middle school students. This meal helps us consider right sharing of world resources and understand more deeply the disparity of resources around the world. Look for more details soon. School Work Day - Please mark your calendars and save the date of Saturday, April 29, from 9:00 a.m. to noon for our all-school work day. With your help we aim to install several playground improvements, tend our gardens, and get our booths ready for the school’s annual Fun Fair. We can use lots of help to get several important jobs done at the school. Please let Tr. Dan know if you are willing to help. An organizational meeting will be held soon. Summer Camp - Registration for summer camp for school families opened on Wednesday, February 15th. This year, all registration materials are available online. So, visit our Summer Camp Page and register- some camps are nearing capacity. Please let Jackie know if you have any questions. Fit Families - You are invited to participate in the Centre Moves Fit Families Challenge! The Fit Families Challenge is a month-long, countywide-challenge to get people moving. Just complete and log 15 workouts during the month of April to be eligible to win prizes! There is no time, activity, or place requirement for your workouts, so just get moving in any way you can! Families can register for the challenge at www.centremoves.org. |
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