Headlines_____________                          December 20, 2013

Today we gathered together to celebrate the holidays.  Many religions and cultures celebrate at this time of year.  There is Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza among others.  Like the celebration of the winter solstice, many of these holidays feature light as an integral part.  Growing up Catholic, I still remember lighting the advent candles each week in the month prior to Christmas and placing the star at the top of our tree on Christmas Day.  Now, as someone who has been in Friends School for a number of years, I cannot help but notice how the light shines in our school.

I see it each morning when doors are held open for the next person.  I see it when one of my math students, gets out of her chair, not to create mayhem, but to help another student with a problem without being asked.  I see it when I witness a student sticking up for herself, and the transgressor, after learning of his misstep, immediately and sincerely apologizes.  I hear it in the protest songs written by our middle school students; songs about hate and war and helping others.  I see it in a whole class taking responsibility to thank another class for their work and help.  I see it in our teachers as they bake treats, help students make gifts, and perform so many extra duties at this time of year.  I see it in our parents as they help in classrooms, assist in all school events and interact with our children.

Thankfully, we are not alone. The light is there in the faces and actions of many adults, children and families.  I believe that, because the light grows shorter at this time of year, we all feel the need to let it shine more in ourselves to help balance the scales.  Quakers use the term the “light” as an equivalent for a higher power and believe that everyone should strive to “walk in the light” during their life’s journey.  I have always admired the universality of this metaphor and during this season of light, I would encourage everyone to look around, find the light in others and let it shine from you.  Kindness begets kindness and it just needs to start somewhere.  Please join me in being a catalyst and may it last throughout the year. 

Have a great break.

Announcements and Reminders

School Survey – So far we have had a good response to our school survey.  Over 40 families have taken the time (~15 minutes) to complete it.  We have learned a lot so far and are anxious to learn more.  Your confidential feedback will provide us with valuable information about our school and how we can better serve our community.  Please let us hear your voice.  You can find the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SCFSAnnualSurvey2013.

Open Houses – We have set our dates for open houses during the winter months.  January’s dates are as follows:

K- 8                 Friday, January 10,               10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Pre-K              Saturday, January 18,           9:30 – 12:00 noon

Quintessential Quakerism – This is a series of workshops provided members of the State College Friends Meeting designed to introduce and inform participants about the Quaker faith and how the testimonies influence personal choices.  The first of three sessions begins on Saturday, January 18^th from 2-4:00 pm.  Look for more information in Friday folders and via emails.

MLK Day – Martin Luther King Day is a special day at Friends and this year is no exception.  On Monday, January 20th  we plan to have an all-school meeting for worship at the Friends Meetinghouse in the morning and enjoy a performance of King in Montgomery in the community room at 1pm,  The performance will be presented by our middle school and features songs and scenes that will definitely lift your spirits. An evening performance will also be given at the school.  Please make plans to attend. 

Bring a Friend to School Day - On Friday, January 17th, when the local school district is closed, guests of our students are welcome to stay for the whole day, or just a part.  More information about this special day will be provided after the holiday break.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays Jan 25^th, February 8^th and March 1^st, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM The Friends School is hosting Winter Play Days for children from 3-7 years old.  The school‘s community room and a K/1 classroom will be open for supervised active and imaginative play.  This is a great opportunity to bring a friend to the school and enjoy a morning out of the cold.  All are welcome, so please help spread the word to friends and neighbors.

 

HEADLINES………..November 22, 2013

  (Dan asked me to write Headlines this week, so I’m sending it along with an apology. I thought and thought about some uplifting or funny thing I could tell you about this week, but for those of us of a certain age, this particular day---November 22---brings such a flood of somber memories that the lighter thoughts just can’t rise to the top. I apologize and will promise to do better next time.)

     As part of their social studies curriculum, our seventh and eighth graders are studying the 1960s right now, and two of them interviewed me yesterday about those years. (I’ve become a living history exhibit, apparently, similar to Williamsburg.) They asked about fashion and art, about music and hair. They wondered about my involvement in the anti-war movement, the civil rights movement, and presidential campaigns. They asked about the best and the worst moments of that decade. Their questions were good ones and a perfect prelude to this particular day, another November 22.

     On November 22 of 1963, I was a ninth grader at Central Catholic High School in Allentown, PA. In the middle of an afternoon algebra class that day, an announcement was made over a staticky intercom telling us that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. We were encouraged to pray, and time froze for the next half-hour. I recall the tears I couldn’t stop, the whispered prayers of classmates, and the stricken faces of suddenly silent teachers. As I had never hoped for anything before, I hoped for that handsome young president. He’d waved at me on an autumn day three years before when he made a campaign appearance downtown, one that my family attended. His physical presence was beautiful, his energy and exuberance were tangible, and his humor and optimism were contagious. My large Irish-Catholic family of dyed-in-the-wool Democrats quickly adopted him as one of our own. Every one of us worked on his campaign, and on election night, you’d have thought we were celebrating the victory of a favorite uncle. The three years that followed that election transformed me into an inveterate news watcher. I couldn’t get enough of our new president, and I couldn’t stop watching as Washington suddenly became washed in vibrant colors after the grays of the 1950s.  Overnight, the White House was transformed into a place full of music and art, beauty and elegance; and we were full of dreams of serving in the Peace Corps and flying to the moon. There was no better time to be young.

    Fifty years ago, on that Friday afternoon, we remained suspended in dread until the intercom crackled again. I wanted to run, to cover my ears, and to somehow not hear the words I already knew would be just too hard to bear. But, they came anyway, the words came to ears too young; and they came with such a grim and awful clarity that I can still hear them, an unbelievable half-century later. He was gone; my young and beautiful president was dead. My memories of the days that followed are blurry, although some moments stand out in high relief. One way that young people gauge the seriousness of situations that are new to them is to watch the reactions and responses of the adults around them, and I saw so many things in those days that underlined and confirmed the enormity of our tragedy.  As I left school and made my way home that afternoon, the nuns I’d always thought might be made of steel were crumbling. Through the bus windows, I saw adults in tears, embracing others or slumped alone against the cold walls of buildings. I was shocked to find my father in front of the living room TV with my ashen mother when I arrived home that day, as unlikely a sight in the middle of a weekday afternoon as a snowflake in August. Family members would fill that room for the next three days as we watched the return of the casket to Washington, the riderless horse, the majestic funeral rites, the heartbreakingly tiny Kennedy children, and the lighting of the flame at Arlington. I don’t remember if we ate or if we spoke or when we slept. I remember my parents’ obvious concern for the effects of the tragedy on their children, though, and I remember finally escaping their attempts at cushioning me. In the middle of that first terrible night, I waited until everyone was asleep and then made my way to the basement where I allowed the floodgates to open. I sobbed in a way that I have never done since. I think it’s possible that my heart broke that day.

  We survived, though, all of us then-young Baby Boomers. We went on to experience a succession of violent public tragedies in the years to come, and I think we may have lived our lives with a certain degree of abandon and vigor because we’d learned too early how short a life could be, and how quickly a spark could be quenched. I know that we became different people that day, and I believe that our collective courses all took some turn they would not have otherwise. We haven’t ever really recovered, though, and I know now that we never will. Tears have sprung to my eyes countless times as I’ve written these few paragraphs. I’m not sure if they’re new tears or if they’re leftovers from the endless tears of fifty years ago, but they appear so quickly when I think of him that I’m made aware again of the ongoing ache and the unhealed wound.

  I’ve watched our students today with a different eye. Most of them are blissfully unaware of the events of fifty years ago, and even those who know the significance of the day think of it as ancient history.  I know they will have their own tragedies and traumas, but I’m so grateful that they won’t have to live through the pain of that awful day in 1963. And I wish with all my might that they will someday feel the sense of hope and promise that came before

Mary Ziegler

mziegler@scfriends.org

Headlines  -             November 1, 2013

Last week I waxed melancholy about the demise of Halloween at the school.  I should have known better.  What a day.  Even though Baba Yaga was detained at customs in Transylvania (something about illegal body parts),our school’s community still managed to pull off a wonderful celebration. 

On Wednesday several middle school students stayed late and decorated the entire hallway for the rest of the school.  They had assistance from Teacher Lori, who cheered them on and helped with the front entrance and pumpkin placement.  They did a great job and, for their work, they were allowed to scare anyone above 4^th grade as they entered the darkened hallway in the morning.  The 2/3 classrooms were the stars of the day as they worked all week to develop and stage a Spooky Science Museum for the rest of the school.  It was a big hit and I learned a lot about owl pellets and phosphorus.

Many other parents got into the act.  Tinka, Karla, Carla, Fred and several others worked together to decorate the Community Room for the monster dance and there were many others on hand in the classrooms to help decorate, facilitate costume changes, chaperone, and party.  It was also great to see so many parents and teachers in costume.  It really adds to the festivities of the day.  Halloween at Friends, like always, was a wonderful event filled with community spirit and fun.  I should have known better and so today I am grateful to know that the spirit of Halloween lives at Friends.  Thanks to all of you.

Please enjoy your weekend and don’t forget to “fall back” an hour on Sunday

Announcements and Reminders

**Parent-Teacher Conferences: Have you signed up for your parent-teacher conference? If not, please do so now so that the teachers are able to properly prepare for their time with you. You can schedule by calling, sending an email, or stopping by the school office. Conferences will be held next week on Thursday and Friday and are 30 minutes in length and will be held in your child’s classroom. You’ll receive a written progress report in the mail prior to your conference.

**Conference Day Child Care: As there is no school for students on November 7^th or 8^th, our conference days, we will offer our regular inservice day child care program from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm both days. If you would like your child to participate for part or all of either or both of these days, please call or email the school to register.

**Chess Club:  Thanks to the initiative of Nathan Elliott, one of our K parents, the first gathering of the Chess Club will be held on Tuesday, November 5 in Teacher Tim’s classroom.  Nathan is working on logisitics including who might be attending when, and whether we’ll have adequate supervision. If you plan to participate, please be in touch with him. You can contact him at Nathan_elliott05@yahoo.com.

**Thankful Tuesday:  Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 26, and plan to join us for our Thankful Tuesday gathering. We’ll assemble that day at 12 noon in the Community Room for brief presentations by each classroom and some Thanksgiving songs. The gathering normally winds up at about 1:00. Students are welcome to leave with their parents then or stay through our regular dismissal time. We’ll also offer our After School Program that day.

 Parents are also invited to come in early on the 26^th to have lunch with their children in the classrooms. Bring your own brown bag feast!

**The SPICES of Life Gala: Our annual SPICES of Life Gala, coming up Sunday, November 10^th, is a relaxed, early evening event featuring delicious food, music, and silent auction fun.  This event is an important friend and fund raising activity for our school.  More details are available on our website, including FAQ and photos of auction items and last year’s event.  Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 4^th, especially if you will need childcare while you are attending the event.  (This is an adult social time.  Free childcare is available at the school for those attending.)

P.S.  Don’t let the word “Gala” fool you.  While the event is set against the lovely, and very special backdrop of The Atherton Hotel (thanks to the generosity of a former Friends School family), this is not a highly formal event.  We hope you will consider attending with friends and relatives.  Direct your questions to Lori Pacchioli, lorip@scfriends.org

 

**Tussey Mountain Ski Program: Once again, it is time to register for the ever popular Tussey Mountain Ski Area School Intramural Program.  The ski program begins on January 9, 2014, but registration is required by 3:00 pm on Thursday, November 14^th to receive the school program discount. Check this week’s Friday Folder for more information. In addition, the full packet will be emailed to you next week. Any questions should be directed to Pam Adams at pjadams67@yahoo.com or 692-5522.

 

"Attitude is the crayon that colors your world"
Alan Klein

Headlines    -                                 October 11, 2013 

A dog wins the day!

I love animals.  I have always owned pets.  Even during my bachelor days, I owned a cat named Boomer who lost a tail to a car, took extended hikes with me and even played fetch.  He was a little confused but that is another story. 

Today I want to talk about a dog named Flower.  As you can guess from the name, Teacher Nick’s dog is a very gentle and somewhat skittish soul.  In past years, Nick has brought Flower into the classroom to assist with math and writing lessons.  This year was different, though, because one of his students harbors a strong fear of dogs.  As a school, we are always mindful when a child has fears and Flower understood that she would have a diminished role in the classroom this year.  However, as Nick shared stories about himself with the class, they began to learn more about Flower and her antics.  Gradually, after hearing about this gentle and loving dog, the dog-averse student became curious, and when Nick asked her if she would like to meet Flower, the answer was a shaky “yes”.

On the day Flower visited, our student started by watching from the other side of the classroom door.  After watching the other students receive dog kisses and tail wags, she became a little bolder and entered the classroom.  She stood on the outside of the circle of students surrounding Nick and Flower.  Progress!  Then it was time to take Flower outside and give students a chance to walk and run with her (also an exercise in descriptive writing).  Everyone took turns walking and running Flower up and down the field.  As I watched from a window in the hall, I was stunned to see our dog-shy student grab the leash and begin running up the field!  The smile on her face spoke volumes.  I walked out to Nick’s porch to get a better look and had the pleasure of watching her bend down and give the dog a big two-handed head rub.  What a breakthrough for this girl!  Flower got an extra treat.

Here at Friends we are able to transcend the typical student/teacher relationship and add levels of empathy, understanding and support that go beyond the school walls.  We are dedicated to helping children grow in many different areas of their lives, and we do whatever we can to help each student.  On this day, it took a dog named Flower. 

Announcements and Reminders

Inservice Days, October 17 and 18 -  Reminder...Thursday and Friday, October 17^th and 18^th are inservice days for our faculty and there will be no school for students.

Pumpkin Decorating Party - On Friday, October 25^th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, we will celebrate the spirit of the season with a Pumpkin Decorating and Monster Mash Dance Party. You are invited to join us for pumpkin decorating, pizza, and our own unique Monster Mash dance led by Tr. Lori. We will provide lots of pumpkin decorating materials and pizza. A supply of pumpkins will be on hand or you can bring your own. There is no charge for this event or for After School on this day, but a small donation when you join or pick up your child is appreciated.  

Annual Fund Campaign – In a day or two, you will receive an Annual Fund Appeal letter in the mail.  Please take a few minutes to read the enclosed brochure and letter that explain the importance of the annual fund, and consider making a pledge or a contribution.   Contributions can be included with tuition, or may be sent independently, and every gift makes a difference.  100% participation by our families makes a significant statement about your commitment to our school.  Visit our website for more information.  Thank you. 

Have a great weekend!

Headlines     -                                 October 4, 2013

The books were selected in June, ordered in July and then the wait began.  They were purchased through the very limited state funding our school receives for educational materials.  It amounts to about $700.00 for a classroom.  In addition, there is a labyrinth of rules governing this money and it takes a real master (i.e. Mary) to decipher the codes and place orders with only selected suppliers.  The rules are so convoluted that student textbooks are OK for purchase but the teacher edition is not.  Graphing calculators need to be purchased at twice the price from an approved vendor rather than a store in town.  This year, due to staff cuts in Harrisburg, the process was agonizingly slow.  So it was a welcome surprise when the books finally arrived on Wednesday, three months after they were ordered. 

 

Mary was excited to find the shipment as she has been fielding several inquiries about their status.  She decided to hand deliver the box full of books herself.  So she lifted the weighty box (she works out and would glare at and refuse anyone who offered to help).  When she entered Teacher Christy’s classroom and announced her treasure, the classroom erupted in applause.  They had more reading material!  I will say it again. Middle school students applauded getting new books to read.  We will also finish installing our new Smartboards in the middle school classrooms this week and, while we welcome the new technology, there was no clapping.

 

Announcements and Reminders - School Lunches, "Ask Dan" Coffee, Blood Drive, Pumpkin Painting

 

School Lunches are Back - In addition to Pizza Fridays, Cafe Karla will be providing students with healthy hot lunches every month.  Please make sure you sign up as they start next Thursday the 10^th . (Friday the 11^th  for 5th-8th graders who will be at the Renassaince Faire on Thursday)

 

“Ask Dan” - Parent Coffee - On Thursday, October 10^th from 8:30 – 9:30 am, all parents, especially those new to our school, are invited to attend a Q&A session with Head of School, Dan Hendey.  Please join us for an hour of conversation, fellowship and treats.

Red Cross Blood Drive - In conjunction with the Red Cross, Friends School will be hosting a Blood Drive on Friday, October 11^th from 12 noon – 6:00 pm in our Community Room.  Many students heard from a Red Cross representative this week about the importance of blood drives and the many ways in which donating blood can help the wider community. We hope our parent community will consider helping. More information is coming to you via Friday folders.

If you’d like to schedule a time to donate, please complete and return the form you’ll find in Friday folders. Or, you can go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter FriendsSchool as the code.

Also, we’re looking for a couple of parent volunteers who could help at the blood drive between the hours of 3:00 – 7:00 pm. This would involve serving as greeters during the drive and then helping with packing up afterwards. If you’d consider this, please let Mary know at mziegler@scfriends.org 

Pumpkin Decorating Party - On Friday, October 25^th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, we will celebrate the spirit of the season with a Pumpkin Decorating and Monster Mash Dance Party. You are invited to join us for pumpkin decorating, pizza, and our own unique Monster Mash dance led by Tr. Lori. We will provide lots of pumpkin decorating materials and pizza. A supply of pumpkins will be on hand or you can bring your own. There is no charge for this event or for After School on this day, but a small donation when you join or pick up your child is appreciated.  

Please enjoy this summer(?) weekend.

 

Dan

Headlines     -                                 October 4, 2013

The books were selected in June, ordered in July and then the wait began.  They were purchased through the very limited state funding our school receives for educational materials.  It amounts to about $700.00 for a classroom.  In addition, there is a labyrinth of rules governing this money and it takes a real master (i.e. Mary) to decipher the codes and place orders with only selected suppliers.  The rules are so convoluted that student textbooks are OK for purchase but the teacher edition is not.  Graphing calculators need to be purchased at twice the price from an approved vendor rather than a store in town.  This year, due to staff cuts in Harrisburg, the process was agonizingly slow.  So it was a welcome surprise when the books finally arrived on Wednesday, three months after they were ordered. 

Mary was excited to find the shipment as she has been fielding several inquiries about their status.  She decided to hand deliver the box full of books herself.  So she lifted the weighty box (she works out and would glare at and refuse anyone who offered to help).  When she entered Teacher Christy’s classroom and announced her treasure, the classroom erupted in applause.  They had more reading material!  I will say it again. Middle school students applauded getting new books to read.  We will also finish installing our new Smartboards in the middle school classrooms this week and, while we welcome the new technology, there was no clapping.

Announcements and Reminders - School Lunches, "Ask Dan" Coffee, Blood Drive, Pumpkin Painting

School Lunches are Back - In addition to Pizza Fridays, Cafe Karla will be providing students with healthy hot lunches every month.  Please make sure you sign up as they start next Thursday the 10^th . (Friday the 11^th  for 5th-8th graders who will be at the Renassaince Faire on Thursday)

“Ask Dan” - Parent Coffee - On Thursday, October 10^th from 8:30 – 9:30 am, all parents, especially those new to our school, are invited to attend a Q&A session with Head of School, Dan Hendey.  Please join us for an hour of conversation, fellowship and treats.

Red Cross Blood Drive - In conjunction with the Red Cross, Friends School will be hosting a Blood Drive on Friday, October 11^th from 12 noon – 6:00 pm in our Community Room.  Many students heard from a Red Cross representative this week about the importance of blood drives and the many ways in which donating blood can help the wider community. We hope our parent community will consider helping. More information is coming to you via Friday folders.

If you’d like to schedule a time to donate, please complete and return the form you’ll find in Friday folders. Or, you can go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter FriendsSchool as the code.

Also, we’re looking for a couple of parent volunteers who could help at the blood drive between the hours of 3:00 – 7:00 pm. This would involve serving as greeters during the drive and then helping with packing up afterwards. If you’d consider this, please let Mary know at mziegler@scfriends.org 

Pumpkin Decorating Party - On Friday, October 25^th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, we will celebrate the spirit of the season with a Pumpkin Decorating and Monster Mash Dance Party. You are invited to join us for pumpkin decorating, pizza, and our own unique Monster Mash dance led by Tr. Lori. We will provide lots of pumpkin decorating materials and pizza. A supply of pumpkins will be on hand or you can bring your own. There is no charge for this event or for After School on this day, but a small donation when you join or pick up your child is appreciated.  

Please enjoy this summer(?) weekend.

 

Dan

Headlines     -                                 September 27, 2013

A tour of the school…

I thought I would give readers a snapshot of our school on a typical day.  So, at 1:00 pm on Thursday, I took a tour of every classroom.  I started downstairs in the middle school and worked my way back to the K/1 classrooms.  Here is what I found:

In 6^th  grade social studies, students were taking turns presenting their research findings on early explorers.  Each student stood in front of the wall map and discussed the time, route, and contributions of their chosen adventurer.  In the 7^th/8^th social studies class, a student was giving a presentation on his poster about Bayard Rustin, an early civil rights activist who worked extensively with Dr. King in the 50’s and 60’s.  The 5^th graders were having art, and the room was filled with students producing optical illusions on paper with pen, pencils, makers and paint.  Each student was sketching a different design to share with the rest of the class.

Upstairs, it was very quiet.  As it turns out, the 2^nd/3^rd grade classes were on a field trip to Way Fruit Farm to learn about growing apples and running a farm.  I heard soft music from the 4^th grade and went to investigate.  The students were writing responses to questions in their journals.  They were so quiet and engrossed in their work that besides the music, I could only hear the sound of pencils on paper. 

In the front of the building, there were more smiles than I could count.  Teacher Michelle’s K/1^st grade class was having a ball with Teacher Kelsey in PE.  They were doing their warm-up exercises and getting ready to play a game.  In Teacher Lisa’s K/1^st grade classroom, students were working with Teacher Aracely on counting in Spanish and decorating their Spanish folders.  While drawing on their folders, groups of students were practicing their Spanish numbers with each other.

In this very short tour through all of our classrooms, I was thrilled to see the quality of direct student participation.  Not once did I see the “sage on stage” method of instruction.  Students had control of the classroom and were being made responsible for their own education.  Whether doing research, writing personal responses, or practicing words with their classmates, the students were actively engaged in their learning.  I also suspect the students on the field trip were also reaping the benefits of this hands-on approach to education.  Our school stresses the importance of student involvement as key to quality education and academic growth and, on this day at 1:00pm, it was in full bloom.

Announcements and Reminders

The All-School (K-8) Potluck is Tonight!  - We expect lots of folks to come and invite you to enjoy your meal in the Community Room or picnic style on the lawn.  Please bring a dish to share and your own place settings.  This event is a great way for families to build community within the school.  We hope your family will join us.

Saving for College? - Are you beginning to wonder how to afford college?  The school is hosting an informational seminar on Pennsylvania’s 529 College Saving Program on Wednesday October 2^nd from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.  This public service session is presented by the PA Treasury Dept.  All parents are encouraged to attend, and to invite an interested friend.

School Lunches are back. -  In addition to Pizza Fridays, Café Karla will be cooking healthy, hot lunches for our school community every month.  Look for the order form and volunteer opportunities in this week’s Friday Folder. If you’d like to join your child for a hot lunch, just add yourself to the order!

“Ask Dan” - Parent Coffee - On Thursday, October ^10th from 8:30 – 9:30 am, all parents, especially those who are new to the school, are invited to attend a Q&A session with Head of School, Dan Hendey.  Please join us for an hour of conversation, fellowship and treats.

Inservice Days, October 17 and 18 -  Thursday and Friday, October 17^th and 18^th are inservice days for our faculty. Although there will be no school for students, we do offer a child care program here at school on all inservice days. If you’d like to use the program for part or all of either or both days, please register by Monday, October 7^th.  You can register your child by calling the school or sending an email. Please be sure to specify which days and the approximate hours your child will attend.  The fee for our child care program is $4.00 per hour. Please note that school bus transportation is not provided on inservice days.

Have a great weekend
Dan

Headlines    -                                 September 20, 2013 

What would you say to an educational program that teaches problem solving, fosters creativity, strengthens focus, supports emotional growth, and fuels imagination?  Would you want that program in your school?  Would you consider it necessary to help students develop those valued skills and habits? Would it be worthy of being included in any school’s curriculum? Well, that program exists and is in full bloom at Friends.  It is our art program. 

Art is an important part of our educational program.  Art at Friends School is designed to be a hands-on, minds-on program that encourages the development of imagination, reflection, and self-expression.  Students are challenged to work with different materials to develop original work that can reflect their feelings or their personal interpretation of a concept or event.  Art engages students physically, emotionally, socially, and even spiritually and provides students with an outlet that may not be available in other classes. Teacher Cindy Hanczar has been at the helm of our Art program for several years now, and she continues to help our students experiment, create, and express themselves using many different media and materials. Already, our classes are turning out some wonderful work.  Just today, I was peeking at the middle school self-portraits and was surprised by the detail and shading.  In addition to Tr. Cindy’s efforts, many of our classroom teachers embrace art as a way to encourage student expression and reflection.  Our teachers know that a curriculum with an art component is inherently more interesting and motivating.  Given the value of art in schools, I always wonder why art programs are among the first things to be cut during budget reductions.  To learn more about the value of art in education, please take a moment to read about it on the bulletin board in our lobby.

Announcements and Reminders

All-School (K-8) Potluck:  Our all-school potluck is next Friday, September 27^th, from 5:30 to 7:30 with dinner beginning at 6:00.  Look for details next week online at www.scfriends.org and in an upcoming email from Tr. Mary.  This event is a great way for families to build community within the school.  Please RSVP by September 25^th via email or phone. We can always use help with set-up and clean-up, so also let us know if you are able to lend a hand. We hope your family will join us.

Student Drop-off and Pick-up Safety:  Parents, please remember that the back parking lot (not the one directly in front of the building) is specifically designed for the safe drop-off and pick-up of students.  Using this lot will ensure that neither you nor your child will have to cross the bus lane or walk in front of cars in the busy front parking lot. Please help keep all of our school community safer by following this important guideline.

Inservice Days, October 17 and 18: Thursday and Friday, October 17^th and 18^th are inservice days for our faculty. Although there will be no school for students, we do offer an inservice child care program here at school on all inservice days. If you’d like to use the program for part or all of either or both days, please register by Monday, October 7^th.  You can register your child by calling the school or sending an email. Please be sure to specify which days and the approximate hours your child will attend.  The fee for our child care program is $4.00 per hour. Please note that school bus transportation is not provided on inservice days.

Dan

"Attitude is the crayon that colors your world"
Alan Klein

Dan Hendey
Head of School

State College Friends School
1900 University Drive
State College, PA 16801
(814) 237-8386
(814) 235-1446 Fax
www.scfriends.org

Headlines    -                                 September 13, 2013

It is a beautiful day.  Already, at 7:45am, I can tell.  The air is crisp, the sun is out and the sky has that special hue of blue that lets one know there should be a great day ahead.   A good time to be outdoors.  Clearly, (pun intended) some of  State College's best weather is in late summer and fall.  The sun seems to shine more, the temperatures are moderate, and the colors seem to vibrate from the plants and trees as they begin their winter preparations. 

Here at the school, we always try to take advantage of this season.  Yesterday, Tr. Tim’s class went to Black Moshannon State Park to learn about beavers and paddle kayaks.  This year everyone stayed dry (mostly) and the class had a great time being together outdoors.  Last week, both the 4th and 5th grade took a trip to Penn’s Cave, not to see the cave, but to tour the annual antique farm machinery show that is held there.  Guides explained and demonstrated how some of these early inventions worked and several students got an opportunity to try them out.  This will have a big payoff when the 4^th grade begins their study of simple machines and creates their Rube Goldberg machines.  Later this month, the middle school will be challenging themselves on a high ropes course and the 2/3 classrooms will take a trip to Millbrook Marsh.  Almost every class will make a trip outside the classroom this fall.  Some are as far as Harrisburg and others are out to the gardens on the edges of the playground.  These trips often provide students with opportunities for experiences that cannot be replicated in the classroom.  I’m also sure that the fresh air and open spaces will provide extra benefit and opportunity for students to experience and assimilate new knowledge and insight.

I love being outdoors during this time of year.  Whether I’m working or playing, it just feels good.  I would also argue that we do not get outside enough.  Being outdoors encourages creative play, provides opportunity for physical exercise, and can give us all a sense of well-being.  So, stop reading this, close the computer, turn off the Gameboy, unplug the TV, and get out.    

Announcements and Reminders

The Community Room – The first issue of The Community Room – Back-to-School Edition, is included in Friday folders.  The Community Room is a monthly communication providing a connection to the events, activities, and happenings of the school.  It is also available on-line at www.scfriends.org.  Share the link with relatives and friends too!

All-School (K-8) Potluck is Friday, September 27^th – Please read details online at  www.scfriends.org, in your child's Friday Folder, and in upcoming weekly letters emailed from teachers.  This event is a great way for families to build community within the school.  We hope your family will join us. Please RSVP by September. 25^th. We can always use help with set up and clean up, so when you RSVP, also let Diane know if you are able to lend a hand.

Substitute Teachers Needed – Each year, we put out a call to our parent community to ask if any of you might be interested in being on our substitute teacher list. You don’t have to be a certified teacher to sub, and we often find that school parents can fill the role perfectly. We use substitutes when classroom teachers or assistant teachers are absent, and also coverage of special classes such as art, music, Spanish, PE, and yoga. This isn’t parent volunteer work, and our substitutes receive financial compensation for their time. Let Mary know if you’d like to be on our sub list. She’d love to have you.

Foxdale Yard Sale - Our neighbors, Foxdale Village, will be holding their semi-annual garage sale on Saturday, October 5, from 8:30 to 11:30am and the Resident's Association needs help in the furniture section.  We enjoy a very enriching relationship with Foxdale and residents serve on our school committees and volunteer in our classrooms.  However, moving furniture is not something that they can do easily.  So if you would like to help out, please let Diane know.

Please enjoy the weekend!

Dan

HEADLINES…….September 6, 2013

Dan Hendey is out of town this Friday, so Headlines come to you from Teacher Mary……

I haven’t done the same job for 30 years because I resist change in general. It’s not because of inertia. I haven’t stayed only because some student glued me to my chair years ago or because I’ve become forgetful about the location of the doors. If I’d started out in some other field, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have held my interest for three full decades. Selling shoes wouldn’t have kept me engaged; my interest in finance or advertising would have faded over time; and I’ve never felt that I was cut out for academia. I seem to prefer the hands-on, germs-on immediacy of working with…or maybe just near… young children. They are ever-changing and breath-taking beings who fascinate me on a deep and endless level. An infinity level, as they would describe it. They are miracles and I’ll never really get my fill of them. I couldn’t have chosen a better way to spend a life.

I was saddened last week by the death of Seamus Heaney, the Nobel-winning Irish poet and a long-time favorite of mine.  Most of you have been blessed by his words on your way in and out of my office, perhaps without knowing it. There’s a somewhat tattered copy of his poem ‘Doubletake’ taped to the wall just next to my door. It contains words I touch each morning as I begin another day at school. “Believe in miracles and cures and healing wells”, it says, words that are good to hold in my mind just before 120 really interesting children walk through the door. It’s not that I deny science. I believe in evolution, climate change, and the moon landing. I believe in the science of human development. But a lifetime of observing children has led me to believe that their metamorphosis involves much more than science, much more than a series of predictable and foreseeable steps and stages. It involves miracles with physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. It involves changes that are sometimes subtle and small, sometimes enormous and awesome. It involves miracles and cures and healing wells, things we can’t always see or understand.

As I was re-reading some of Mr. Heaney’s work this week, his poem ‘Postscript’ became a new favorite.  In it, he describes driving on a windy day, through changing light, on a dramatically lovely road in the west of Ireland, a road between the sea and the rocky, lake-filled land. He ends the poem with these lines:

Useless to think you’ll park or capture it

More thoroughly. You’re neither here nor there,

A hurry through which known and strange things pass

As big soft buffetings come at the car sideways

And catch the heart and blow it open.

Could there be a lovelier description of childhood, I wondered, and of the effects of it on those of us who observe it? These young people I spend my days with are neither here nor there, neither babies nor adults. They’re in a misty, magical in-between state that doesn’t last nearly long enough, a ‘hurry’ during which they experience all sorts of things from the hard, known science of developmental stages to the strange and miraculous flights of their imaginations and fantasies. They buffet us every day, and they blow our hearts open at the most unpredictable and surprising moments.

None of this is to say that they don’t shout and trip, chew with their mouths open, and experience great bursts of energy at the worst possible times. They have thrown up on me, they ignore my ‘good mornings’, and they never wash their hands before they hug me. The fact that I still think of them as miracles seems to prove that there’s much more than science at work in this world.

Mary Ziegler

Reminders & Announcements:

**Our potluck dinner for our K/1 families will be held tonight---Friday, September 6---from 5:30 – 7:00 in the school’s Community Room. This is a fun and informal way for the families of our youngest students to get to know one another.

**Thanks to everyone who attended Back to School Night last evening. We were delighted by the attendance and hope you found the evening to be informative. We experimented with holding the event at an earlier hour this year. (It used to be from 7:00 – 8:30.) What did you think of the change? 

**The Annual Report edition of A Friendly Voice will be arriving in mailboxes this weekend.  It is also available online in full color; the photos really come to life. Please email Lori Pacchioli, lorip@scfriends.org if you do not receive your copy within the next few days.

** The All-School (K-8) Potluck is Friday, September 27^th.  Please read details online - www.scfriends.org – and in upcoming weekly email from teachers.  This event is a great way for families to build community within the school.  We hope your family will join us. Please let Diane know if you are able to lend a hand with set up and clean up.

**Be sure to check your child’s Friday Folder for information about the start of three after school athletic programs; tennis (K-4^th), soccer (3^rd-8^th), and track (2^nd-8^th).

Mary Ziegler

Assistant Head
State College Friends School
1900 Univeristy Drive
State College, PA  16801
814-237-8386
Fax: 814-235-1446
www.scfriends.org

Headlines    -                                 August 30, 2013

Headlines is a weekly email from me (and sometimes Mary) that includes a few observations from the week and information regarding school events.  It is sent to every current parent’s email address and posted as a blog on the school’s website.  You may access that link here or from the front page of our website at http://www.scfriends.org - Dan

I know this is the first week of school and there are many new and exciting things happening but as I consider what I should write about I keep coming back to the same topic--- compassion.

This summer, my daughter elected herself to take care of the mice from Tr. Bailey’s middle school science classroom.  They were all females, light eaters, quiet as mice, and living happily in a terrarium.  What could happen?  Well, nature happened and we learned that they were not all females.  The first litter came in early August and the next blessed event occurred just two weeks ago.  Anna is now the proud ‘parent’ of over 30 mice and her parents are looking forward to returning them all to Tr. Bailey soon. 

As the first brood matured, Anna noticed that 4 of the babies were not developing as fast as the others and that the mother had stopped feeding them.  She tried many things to fix this situation (hand feeding, isolating the runts with the mother) but, in the end, the laws of nature held.  Besides the caring she provided for each mouse, I was touched to see her hold a mini-funeral for each one by gently wrapping them up, saying a goodbye and burying them out in the flower garden. 

Our 2/3 classroom also experienced a death over the summer.  It seems Peppi, one of the class guinea pigs, passed away quietly.  Upon their return to school and after some discussion, the class decided to hold a memorial service for the beloved furry guy.  The children who knew Peppi wrote eulogies, the others made a heart shape on the lawn out of small rocks, and the whole class (including students the 4^th graders who knew Peppi) stood in silence around the heart and offered their remembrances and thanks. The service ended with a heartfelt song.  The full story, along with pictures, is on our website.

This week I am struck by the compassion of the children of this school.   It is evidenced by the students (and Tr. Reneé) of the 2/3 classroom, the two middle school boys who help a 2^nd grader get from the bus to her classroom each morning, and the first graders in Lisa’s class who help the new kindergarten students get used to school.  Compassion comes from taking the time to understand and celebrate the gifts that a person or animal has provided.  It is a quality that is undervalued and much needed in our world.  It was refreshing to see our newest teacher jump in so quickly to ensure that the children had their time to say goodbye and to foster their developing sense of compassion.   Each time I watch Anna bury a mouse in the yard, I am thankful for all of her teachers who have worked to nurture the compassion in her.

 

Announcements

Back to School Night – Our annual Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 5^th from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Please plan to join us, as it will be an excellent time for you to find out about Friends School and become familiar with your child’s classroom and teachers.  This event is for adults. If you’re unable to make child care arrangements, let us know. We can provide supervision for a limited number of children, but you do need to notify us if you’ll need this. 

Potluck Suppers – Two potlucks are scheduled this fall.  A potluck for the K/1 classes will be held on Friday, September 6^th from 5:30 to 7 pm.  (Please note the date change!) This supper is a way for our new parents to meet and begin forming a parent classroom community.  An all-school potluck is scheduled for Friday, September 27^th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  Potlucks are a wonderful way for our community to come together in a relaxed and informal manner.  Both events will be held in the Community Room.  In the way of Friends School, we ask you to consider pitching in for set up and/or clean up for this event.  Please let our director of development know if you are able to assist for 20 minutes or so before or after: lorip@scfriends.org We hope you will join us to make new friends and enjoy some wonderful food.

If you’re a first grade family and can lend some hospitality help for the K/1 potluck, please let Lori know. (lorip@scfriends.org) We’d love some help with set-up, clean-up, and welcoming our new kindergarten families.

Substitute Teachers Needed -  Each year, we put out a call to our parent community to ask if any of you might be interested in being on our substitute teacher list. You don’t have to be a certified teacher to sub, and we often find that school parents can fill the role perfectly. We use substitutes when classroom teachers or assistant teachers are absent, and also coverage of special classes such as art, music, Spanish, PE, and yoga. This isn’t parent volunteer work, and our substitutes receive financial compensation for their time.

If you’d like to be on the list, or if you’d just like to discuss the possibility, please be in touch with Mary at mziegler@scfriends.org Let her know if you have preferred grade levels or subject areas, and what your available days would be. Also let her know about anyone else you think would make a great sub.

Please enjoy the Labor Day weekend.

Dan

Headlines – End of Year Edition      June 6, 2013

Thank You - It has been quite a year.  On Monday, we began our in-service week by reviewing the school year and sharing classroom experiences.  It quickly became apparent why our school year seemed so busy.   Besides all the individual classroom events and field trips, there were over 30 school-wide events and celebrations.  We wish to thank our vibrant and committed parent community for your help in managing these events throughout the year.  We also wish to thank each of our parents for sharing their children with us this year.  We are blessed to have such lively, caring, and curious students.  Thank you all for letting us care for and educate your children. 

Summer Balance - Summer is a balancing act.  Without reinforcement, especially through reading, students may lose a significant portion of their previous year’s academic progress.  Yet summer also provides the best opportunities for large chunks of unstructured and unscheduled time that children also need.  Children need this time to reflect, to think deeply, dream big, and make connections with all the new information that they are exposed to.  So we encourage parents to balance their children’s summer.  Make sure they have time for reading, physical activity and for nothing at all.  Sign up for a summer reading program, plan museum visits, make sure physical activity is part of the day and give children the gift of time to breathe, explore, discover and play on their own. 

Announcements 

2013/2014 Calendar: Our calendar for the next school year was approved by the Board of Trustees last month and is attached.  Please note that our first day of school will be on Tuesday, August 27, and will coincide with the State College School District

Summer Packets: Summer packets from the school will be sent in mid-August.  They will contain letters from the school and from your child’s teachers, forms to complete, class rosters and suggested student supplies.  They will also have information on class themes and faculty additions.  Please hold off on school purchases until you receive these mailings.

Middle School Scholarships:  The school is currently accepting applications for merit scholarships to deserving students entering the 5^th through 8^th grade.  We are seeking students who embrace learning, are committed to building community, and display a willingness to lead. 

Thank you all again for a great year and enjoy your summer.

Dan

 Headlines  -                                                                  May 25, 2013

Well, we did it again!   Kudos to all the teachers and parents who helped put on another successful camping trip.  Last night over 150 campers enjoyed the howling winds and sudden drop in temperature.  Based on my brief survey, our campers appreciated many different activities on the trip.  Swimming and beach time seemed to be a favorite of the younger ones (despite the seemingly sub-zero water temperatures) while the older students favored the climbing wall and night-time activities.  I always look forward to that end of Friday’s Meeting for Worship moment when all the activities are finished, all the announcements are given, and the last song’s verse has stopped echoing.  Despite the end being upon us, no one moves and you can feel a collective resistance to ending the camping trip.  It is a moment that is filled with friendship and affection for all; a moment to savor.  This is how a school community should be and I thank you all for your part in nurturing our unique school community.  Please enjoy your long weekend.

Dan

PS.  It seems that some ticks were hoping to join our community these past few days.  I have received two emails from parents who reported finding a tick on their camper.  Please remember to check everyone carefully today.  If you find any, there is more information about identification and removal at many web sites including this one from the CDC.  http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/

Announcements

Blue/White Soccer Match and Water Games - Our annual blue/white soccer game will be held Thursday afternoon, May 30^th. Activities begin at noon with a BYO picnic lunch and the game is slated to begin at 12:45 and last about an hour.  All parents and friends are encouraged to attend. After, students will have water games (weather permitting) for the remainder of the day.  Students should bring swim suits or a change of clothes, closed shoes that can get wet, and a plastic bag for wet gear on this day.

Last Day/Graduation – Friday, May 31, is our last day of school and graduation for our eighth grade students.  We will have Meeting for Worship beginning at 8:45 and continue into our moving up and graduation ceremony.   It will be a half day with dismissal and buses at noon.  Please pack extra snacks for your student as there will be no lunch time on Friday.

"Attitude is the crayon that colors your world"
Alan Klein

Headlines  -                                                                  May 17, 2013

Our camping trip is next week (yes, next week) and I thought it might be a good idea to share some of my observations about how a parent might survive and thrive during the all-school camping trip.

First.  Your child will be very excited before and throughout the trip, especially the younger ones.  Simple activities such as eating or tying a shoe may be much harder for them during this time.  Don’t worry; those skills will return.  Realizing how exciting it must be for your child will help you to be understanding when they can’t seem to remember your name.  However, in middle school they are choosing to not recognize you. 

Second.  If you come on the trip, you will have fun.  It is a beautiful spot and the quirks of the camp staff are a small price to pay for the experience.  There is ample opportunity for you to help the teachers, chaperone students, and enjoy the company of other parents and kids.  It is a fun and pleasant time to be together.  Beach time, camp fires, and the talent show are highlights for many but I especially like the lake side Meeting for Worship on Friday morning.  I do know that many parents enjoy the camping trip and, like me, look forward to it every year. 

Third.  Parents should realize that there are some philosophical differences between Friends School and Camp Blue Diamond.  The camp and its staff have been running their facility for a long time and believe that organization and timing are keys to a successful camp.  We have also been in business for a long time and are organized a little differently.  This can and does lead to some confusion.  We get scolded when we aren’t on time, we are asked to use designated “in” and “out” doors in the lodge even though they both open to the same place, and we are given no quarter on changing meal numbers once we provide them a week earlier (see Mary’s email).  Our school, on the other hand, is seeking a peaceful and relaxed experience and Blue Diamond’s approach can seem overbearing at times.  However, regimentation can have its benefits; the camp is clean and safe and coffee is available in the morning at 6:30 am sharp.

Fourth.  On Friday, everyone will be tired (including you).  It will be a good tired but there may be some crankiness seeping in.  Plan on low-key activities for Friday afternoon and evening.  Our family has found movie night at home to be a great way to spend our evening.  Others start travel plans and have enjoyed sleeping children during the drive.  Either way, knowing that tiredness may be part of the equation on Friday is essential. 

Finally, being prepared for Mother Nature is always good idea when venturing outside for a few days.  Comfort is always a big part of enjoying your time outdoors.  Make sure that you, as well as your child, are prepared with layered clothing, rain gear and proper footwear.  The packing list that you received with your letter reflects years of accumulated wisdom and deserves your attention.

Well I hope these brief observations will help you and your student to better enjoy our camping trip.  It is a wonderful time, filled with fun and friendships, and I hope to see you there.

Dan

Announcements

Dorothy’s Potluck – Reminder: Teacher Dorothy retires from teaching at the end of this school year. All are invited to attend a dessert potluck reception in the State College Friends School Community Room, Tuesday, May 21st from 6:00 - 8:00. (We are not serving dinner.) Bring a dessert and some memories to share. Invitations and notices were sent to former and current families, faculty, trustees, and friends but please keep spreading the word to your alumni friends. Direct your questions about the event, gifts, program, etc. to lorip@scfriends.org

Camping Trip -The all-school camping trip is next Thursday and Friday, May 23 and 24.  Mary is still waiting for a few signed forms.  Paris is out of the question!

Last Day/Graduation – Friday, May 31 is our last day of school and graduation for our eighth graders.  We will have Meeting for Worship beginning at 8:45 and continue into our moving up and graduation ceremony.   It will be a half day with dismissal and busses at noon.

Tennis and Golf - Many of our children enjoyed our after school tennis program again this session. To find out more about tennis in the Centre Region, there will be a Tennis Block Party, hosted by the Centre Region Community Tennis Association, on Saturday, May 18 from 11 to 2 at the Spring Creek Tennis Courts.

If you and your children enjoyed the new addition of Golfzilla at the Fun Fair this year and would like to find out more about golf opportunities and camps for children through the PGA Sports Academy on campus, there are brochures at the front desk or you can contact Steve Wager at smw363@psu.edu. We are so grateful for the generous donation of this Golfzilla at the Fun Fair, and it definitely looked like folks really enjoyed it!

 

 

"Attitude is the crayon that colors your world"
Alan Klein