State College Friends School Headlines

2012-01-31T10:06:00.002-05:00

Headlines - January 27, 2012

A lot has happened in the larger community this week. The passing of Joe Paterno has presented me, and I suspect others, with some trouble in reconciling my thoughts. As significant as his accomplishments were for the university and its students, the current scandal casts an unfortunate cloud.

We live around the corner from the Paternos and we would occasionally see him walking or driving about the neighborhood. A few years ago, after a home football game (a loss) Anna and Liz ran into him on his walk home and he stopped to talk to Anna about a home under construction that held her attention. He was kind and warm and they spoke for awhile about dump trucks and backhoes. It was a conversation we will all remember. To us, it revealed the human side of JoPa. Joe Paterno and my father came from the same generation and were probably cut from the same cloth; hardworking, persistent, and loyal. Knowing my dad helps me to appreciate Coach Paterno’s style and the values he emulated. Like my dad, he was also human and capable of mistakes and I am sure he wrestled with the outcomes of his choices. Everyone’s life is full of accomplishments and a few mistakes. Who among us cannot claim responsibility for a mistake, a poor choice, or an action that has caused others harm? Mistakes, along with the ability to forgive, are what make us human.

I remain angry about what happened and I hope that the upcoming legal process will grant the victims some solace in the end. But this week, I also mourn for a good man who worked hard for what he believed in, accomplished great things, and was a positive influence in the lives of so many people. His lifetime of achievement stands as testimony for a life spent in service to others. Thank you, Joe.

Announcements

Another Special Welcome – Please join us in welcoming another new addition to our Friends School family. Tr. Kelly and her husband, Ken, welcomed their new son, Cooper Myron Corradini to their family on January 14th. Everyone is doing well, and Kelly and Ken are thoroughly enjoying the first steps of this new life adventure.

Bey Blades– Over the past month or so, the Bey Blades toy phenomenon has hit new heights at Friends School. There are many students who spend their entire recess engaged in “jousts”. In addition, the stadiums and toys are becoming a distraction in the classroom. And, as usually happens when a new toy is introduced, teachers are constantly dealing with issues of fair play, and sharing between those who have and those who do not. Finally, the vocabulary of the Jousts; termination, assassination, and kills is hard for us to hear. Therefore, beginning Monday, we ask parents that Bey Blades be given a rest from Friends School. In the future, we will be providing our students with a variety of games and alternative choices to help them enjoy a more healthful and stimulating time during recess.

Cookie Decorating Party – On Thursday, February 2, we will hold our second cookie decorating party during After School. Kids love decorating cookies, and we all love eating them at Friday hot lunch. Please see your youngest student’s Friday Folder for more information!

Free Winter Play Days –On Saturday February 18th we will be hosting a Winter Play Day and Open House at Friends School. From 9:30 to 11:30, the school‘s Community Room and a K/1 classroom will be open for supervised active and imaginative play for children from 3-7 years old. Parents and administrators will also be on hand to give interested families a tour of the school and answer any questions they may have regarding Friends School and the admissions process. This is a great opportunity to bring a friend to the school and enjoy a morning out of the cold. Refreshments and snacks will be served and all are welcome.

An Open House at Friends Schoolhouse will also be held the same morning from 9:30 to 11:30 for those interested in learning more about the enrollment process for 3 – 5 year olds. Another Play Day is scheduled for Saturday, March 17th.

Open Houses – Our Admissions open houses are scheduled for the following dates and times.

Tues., Jan 31st 6:00 – 7:00 pm Middle School Open House – 1900 University Drive

Sat., Feb. 18th 9:30 -11:30 am Friends School (K-8) Open House/ Winter Play Day – 1900 University Drive

Fri., March 23rd 10:00 – 1:00 pm Friends School (K-8) Open House- 1900 University Drive

Please tell your friends and encourage them to take a tour.

Financial Aid - Information about the financial aid application process was sent (in the mail) last week to families who currently receive assistance. Contact Mary if you need that information but didn’t receive it. The deadline for applying for financial aid is February 27.

Have a good weekend.

Dan

2012-01-25T09:04:00.001-05:00

Headlines - January 20, 2012

As I write we are in the middle of a delayed opening and there is snow on the ground. I am not a big fan of winter, but this weather feels right to me for mid-January.

On Thursday morning, I had the opportunity to take a brief ½ hour tour of the school and this is what I observed:

At 9:45 am., I stepped into Tr. Becky’s 2/3 classroom and was surprised to find fifth grade students Anna, Caitlin, and Seveta, presenting a lesson on friendship with Tr. Sam. The girls had a large paper doll and were demonstrating to Becky’s class how mean words can “tear” a person (and a friendship) up. The rest of the lesson focused on building friendships and how to share feelings with others. Like the best teachers, the fifth graders asked good questions, listened and recorded answers, and even redirected behaviors when appropriate. For each suggestion the 2/3 students shared on how to repair and improve friendships, pieces of the doll were taped back together. The fifth grade students were very poised and sincere and Tr. Becky’s students thoroughly enjoyed the lesson. I left the room, filled with pride, as a father and head of school.

At 10:00 am., I headed down to the middle school. In Tr. Bailey’s science class, I received a big surprise. The 7/8 science class was cleaning up from a comparative anatomy class. It seems Tinka (classroom parent and local farmer) had a sheep butchered this week and asked the butcher to save the organs. She and Bailey displayed the various parts on the tables and the class was then able to inspect the lungs, heart, intestines and stomach. At Friends, we realize that anatomy can be a sensitive subject, so while all students were encouraged to put on gloves and participate, they could also choose to watch from the sidelines. Later, students were asked to compare these organs to our human models. What a wonderful opportunity. I know there were will be many students who will remember this lesson for a lifetime.

That ended my ½ hour tour of the school. All this in 30 minutes. We have a truly remarkable school. While not every tour may find such unique lessons, I am sure that everyone will find classrooms full of dedicated students, awesome teachers and parents who care. Please come in for your own tour.

Announcements

Hello and Good-bye – Please join me in welcoming new student Kamran Perymon Manuel to Teacher Lisa’s K/1 classroom. Kamran and his mom Amber are recent transplants from Florida.

We also bid a good-bye to Joanna White who will be accompanying her family on a semester-long sabattical adventure to Australia beginning next week. Joanna hopes to return in time for the graduation ceremony (with lots of stories to share).

The Cat in the Hat and All That – The K-5 classes will be attending ‘Seussical’ at Eisenhower on Monday.

Nurses’ Visit - The State College School District nurses will visit on Tuesday. They’ll do vision, hearing, dental and color blindness screenings. They’ll also check height and weight, and do scoliosis checks with older students.

Conflict Resolution Workshop – The School’s Quaker Life Committee will be hosting a community discussion on conflict resolution on Tuesday, January 24th beginning at 5:30 pm. It will include a panel presentation followed by a group discussion. Panel members include K/1 Tr. Dorothy Habecker, Head of School Dan Hendey, and parent Kerry Weismann. The evening will begin with a simple meal for all at 5:30 pm and end by 7:30 pm. Child care will be provided. Please call the school to reserve your spot. All are invited.

Open Houses – Our Admissions open houses are scheduled for the following dates and times.
Date Time Notes

Tues., Jan 31st 6:00 – 7:00 pm Middle School Open House – 1900 University Drive

Sat., Feb. 18th 9:30 -11:30 am Friends School (K-8) Open House/ Winter Play Day – 1900 University Drive

Fri., March 23rd 10:00 – 1:00 pm Friends School (K-8) Open House – 1900 University Drive

Please tell your friends and encourage them to take a tour.

Financial Aid - Information about the financial aid application process was sent (in the mail) this week to families who currently receive assistance. Contact Mary if you need that information but didn’t receive it. The deadline for applying for financial aid is February 27.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the snow.

Dan

2012-01-09T14:24:00.002-05:00

Headlines - January 6, 2012

Welcome Back

As much as I enjoyed the break (and I did), it was also nice to get back to school. After all, January and February is basketball season. Where I grew up (before soccer), basketball was king. We had a hoop attached to our garage at the end of a large flat driveway and it was the perfect neighborhood court. My older brothers and I spent many afternoons there, in all kinds of weather, shooting, playing, and hanging out with our friends. Our court became quite the scene with some pretty intense competition, but those are other stories.

I look forward to the basketball season. I love watching it (mostly college) and enjoy the opportunity to share my love of the sport with others. This week we started our annual basketball clinic for 4-8th graders and I had a blast. While the skill level varied, the enthusiasm was universal. Many students were apprehensive but we seemed to overcome our fears. I got a special kick from coaching my own daughter who was afraid of getting hit by the ball but seemed to relax by the end of the day. I can’t wait to see where we get to by the end of the clinics. We still have openings. . . . .

Announcements - Lots of Dates to Remember

MLK Day –On Monday, January 16th we plan to have an all-school meeting for worship at the Meetinghouse on Prospect Ave. in the morning and enjoy a performance of King in Montgomery back here at school in the Community Room at 1 pm. The performance will be presented by our middle school and features songs and scenes that will definitely lift your spirits. All are encouraged to attend this unique event.

Our adult choir, the King Chorus, is now forming and will hold a practice at the school on Saturday the 14th from 1-2 pm.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays Jan 14th, February 18th and March 17th, from 9:30 to 11:30 am, Friends School is hosting Saturday Play Days for children from 3-7 years old and their parents. The school‘s Community Room and a K/1 classroom will be open for supervised active and imaginative play. Children must be accompanies by a parent or other responsible adult. Refreshments and snacks will be served. 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. A flyer is in your child’s Friday Folder!

Open Houses – Our Admissions open houses are scheduled for the following dates and times.
Date Time Notes

Sat., January 7th 10:00 – 12:00 Moms and More Pre-K Fair at the Friends School – 1900 University Drive

Sat., January 7th 10:30 – 12:30 Friends Schoolhouse (pre-school) Open House – 611 E. Prospect Ave.

Fri., January 20th 10:00 – 1:00 pm Friends School (K-8) Open House – 1900 University Drive

Tues., Jan 31st 6:00 – 7:00 pm Middle School Open House – 1900 University Drive

Sat., February 18th 9:30 -11:30 am Friends School (K-8) Open House and Winter Play Day – 1900 University Drive

Fri., March 23rd 10:00 – 1:00 pm Friends School (K-8) Open House – 1900 University Drive

Please tell your friends and encourage them to take a tour.

Conflict Resolution Practices in the School and Home – Ever wonder how our school’s Quaker philosophy inspires our approach to conflict resolution and discipline? On Tuesday January 24th, the Quaker Life committee is hosting a parent workshop for anyone who is interested in learning about conflict resolution and how they can apply these methods at home. A community meal will be offered beginning at 5:30 pm and the panel discussion will begin at 6:00 pm. This event is open to the public.

Have a great weekend

Dan

2012-01-06T09:32:00.000-05:00

Headlines - December 21, 2011

What a Week!

I’m borrowing that line from Trs. Kelly and Becky’s newsletters because it is so appropriate for this week. It has been a beehive of activity and the building excitement of the holidays has added to the festive atmosphere around here. I am amazed by the gifts our students have been making at the school. Snow globes, bracelets, ornaments, the list goes on. I hope everyone who receives one can appreciate the effort and love that went into them.

I just returned from the holiday party at the Pre-school. The students have been practicing several songs all week and gave everyone a performance before lunch. There is nothing that can get you in the spirit of season more than hearing 3 and 4 year olds belt out Deck the Halls and Rudolph. It was so sweet. As I get ready for this year’s holiday sing at the school I want to wish all of our families a happy and healthy holiday. No matter your belief, please be open to the good will and spirit of the season and pass it on.

Announcements

MLK Day – Martin Luther King Day is a special day at Friends and this year is no exception. On Monday, January 16th we plan to have an all-school meeting for worship at the 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. Please make plans to attend.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays Jan 14th, February 18th and March 17th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM The Friends School is hosting Saturday 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome. Please contact the school at (814) 237-8386.

Open Houses – Our Admissions open houses are scheduled for the following dates and times.
Date Time Notes
Sat., January 7th Pre-K Fair at school, School house Open House
Fri., January 20th K-8 Open House
Sat., February 18th 9:30 -11:30 am K-8 Open House and Winter Play Day
Fri. March 23rd 9:00 – 12 noon K-8 Open House

Please tell your friends and encourage them to take a tour.

Have a great holiday and a happy new year!

Dan

Headlines - December 2, 2011

2011-12-05T08:14:00.002-05:00

Headlines - December 2, 2011

As I turn the page of the calendar, I realize that the winter holidays are fast approaching. Along with colder weather, the season brings a marketing and shopping frenzy that seems in conflict with the school’s value of simplicity. Consumerism and simplicity were the topics of discussion at a school workshop on Wednesday evening. The workshop was the first in a series of parent workshops sponsored by the school’s Quaker Life committee. After sharing a community meal, over 20 participants settled in to watch the short film call the Story of Stuff. This film outlined the growth of commercialism in the United States and argued that this pattern of resource use is ultimately unsustainable. A discussion after the film was a time for sharing our ideas on simplicity, keeping the hubbub to a minimum, and how to stay focused on the positive human aspects of the holidays.

Speaking of positive aspects, on Wednesday I received a letter from a student who is starting a society with her cousins that will try to help the world. In this letter she asked me to write to other schools telling them to try and stop wasting “water, food, drink, electricity etc.” I wish she’d been at the workshop on Wednesday night. She would have added a good perspective (and a measure of hope) to our conversation. I will share her letter with several other heads of schools during our next gathering in Philadelphia. Whatever your faith or belief, I hope you find the upcoming holiday season filled with good will and the simple joys of family and friends.

Announcements

Snow Days, Delayed Openings, and Early Dismissals –On days when snow, ice or other conditions might make for hazardous travel, parents should check local TV and radio stations for news of school closings or delays. We try to make a determination by 6:30 AM and post information on WPSU, WJAC-TV, most local radio stations, and on our voice mail message (237-8386). Look and listen for the announcement specifically mentioning “State College Friends School” and “Friends Schoolhouse”. Since we ride the same buses, we will usually follow the lead of the State College Area School District. In the case of early dismissal, the school will contact parents with a phone call or email. Parents who drop off their students are responsible for arranging transportation home at the time of the early dismissal..

Peace Choir Sings – The Peace Choir will be performing at the following dates and time this season. We hope that everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy a performance this year.

Foxdale/Friends School Winter Concert Foxdale Village Saturday, Dec. 3 1:30 pm

Toys for Tots Ramada Inn Saturday, Dec. 10 8:10-9:45 am

School Holiday Sing School Wednesday, Dec. 21 1:45 pm

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays Jan 20th, February 18th and March 23rd, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friends School will host Saturday 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. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome. If you have questions, please contact the school at (814) 237-8386.

Give Us Your Tired – Cleaning the dishes after Wednesday night’s workshop gave me an idea. Over time, our supply of silverware and dish towels has been slowly disappearing from the kitchen. I was wondering if parents had extra sets of silver ware (especially teaspoons and forks) or gently used kitchen towels that they would like to find a nice home for? The school is in need of these items and could certainly put them to good use.

Holiday Gathering – Please plan to join us for our annual Holiday Gathering on Tuesday, December 21 at 1:45 p.m. in the Community Room. We’ll gather for some group caroling, a brief performance by our Peace Choir, and some social time before we all scatter for the winter break. Parents are asked to bring along a plate of cookies, or other easy-to-eat snack, to share.

Thankful Tuesday

2011-11-18T16:34:00.001-05:00

From Teacher Mary this week…

In November of 1980, just weeks into Friends School’s very first year of existence, the ten children who comprised our entire student body invited their parents to join them for “Thankful Soup” on the day before Thanksgiving vacation. The children worked for days preparing a feast for their guests. They’d picked apples and made applesauce. They prepared corn bread. They all brought vegetables and other soup ingredients from home and made a huge pot of Thankful Soup.

I attended that first gathering as the parent of a 6-year-old Friends School first grader. I was an eye-witness to the fact that although the soup was lovingly prepared, it was also just dreadful. The child cooks hadn’t been allowed to use very sharp knives and their little hands got tired, so the diners encountered enormous pieces of potato and carrot and turnip as we spooned the poorly seasoned, watery soup into our bowls. Some of us required knives and forks, not just soup spoons. It was impossible, though, to be disdainful about the food in the face of such enthusiastic young cooks. So, we shared that first Thankful Soup as we sat in tiny chairs around tables in the school’s one-and-only basement classroom. As we ate, the gratitude in the room felt like a tangible thing, a fellow guest. The project of starting a school had been a major one for all of us and for just a few moments in that whirlwind of a year, we stopped and gave thanks. It was sweet and warming, profound and sustaining.

Our Thanksgiving traditions have evolved with the growth of the school. We eventually outgrew both our original space and our student-made soup. We don’t let go of traditions easily, though, and we kept serving that same terrible soup for years. Finally, when our guest list began to consistently top 100, we admitted that the tradition had become a little too ambitious for a bunch of 7-year-old sous chefs. So, we bid good-bye to Thankful Soup (some of us quite gleefully), and tried a number of variations on the theme until we finally settled on our current celebration. We had a year of Thankful Muffins, and I think there was a Thankful Cookies year, too. We’ve gathered in small classrooms, in large Community Rooms, and in buildings old and new. The constant thread for me, though, has been one special moment that happens each year, a moment when I close my eyes for just a second in the midst of whatever hubbub we’ve created that particular year and just say ‘thanks’. It’s a touchstone in my year, one that anchors me personally and in a larger sense, too. I remember Thankful Tuesday the year I turned 40, the year I became a grandmother, the year our country went to war, and the year we elected a new president. I remember marking the day during years that were difficult for our school and during years when we celebrated.

Next Tuesday, the Friends School community will gather for the thirty-second time for our Thankful Tuesday observation. Parents will bring their brown bags to our classrooms and have lunch in tiny chairs. We’ll gather in the Community Room to watch our students present the special performances they’ve been practicing, little Thanksgiving gifts for their families. The Peace Choir will sing like angels and bring tears to our eyes. In this year when our larger community has been rocked to its core and our hearts can’t stop aching, I believe that Friends School’s tradition will once again warm and sustain us. I know that the thanks I say when I close my eyes for that moment next week will be for the trust I have in our school community, for its ability to hold us during hard times, and for the safe and loving atmosphere it has provided for our children for a very long time. Whether it’s your first time or your thirty-second, I hope you’ll join us.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS:

Thankful Tuesday: Please join us for this annual celebration on Tuesday, November 22. Here’s the schedule for the day:

11:15: Parents are welcome to join children in classrooms for lunch. Both children and parents should bring their own packed lunch.

12 Noon: All-school gathering in Community Room for a few selections from the Peace Choir, presentations by each classroom, and a couple of our traditional songs for all of us

1:00 p.m.: All-school recess, weather permitting

We have a full day of school on Thankful Tuesday and our After School Program will operate until 5:30. However, if you’d like to get an early start on your Thanksgiving travels, parents are welcome to take students home at the end of our festivities at 1:00.

Foxdale Thank-You: We want to thank Foxdale Village for a unique and generous donation. Because of a resident’s gift, Foxdale is able to present each of its employees with a Weis gift card as a holiday gift. This year, Foxdale purchased the cards through our school’s gift card program and this generated over $1000 for Friends School. Your use of Giant and Weis gift cards can really add up. Please consider purchasing your grocery cards through the school. We will have them available at Thankful Tuesday. Collectively, it can make a big difference.

Cookie Decorating: We’ll have a cookie decorating party during the After School Program on Thursday, December 1. Please check your child’s Friday Folder for details.

School Photos: Sabine Carey began school photos this week and has completed the K/1 and 2/3 classes. The rest of the students will be photographed as follows:

4th and 5th Grades: Tuesday, November 29

Middle School: Wednesday, November 30

Make-Ups: December 2 (and December 6 and 7, as needed)

Parent Workshop: Our Quaker Life Committee will be hosting a light supper and discussion on Wednesday, November 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The discussion will focus on consumerism and will include a viewing of the short film “The Story of Stuff”. Child care will be available, but please call or email in advance if you’ll need it.

Have a really great weekend with your really great children.

Mary Ziegler

2011-11-14T08:06:00.000-05:00

Headlines - Nov 11, 2011

What a week. . . .

In light of the truly tragic events that have come to light this week, it is hard for me to begin my usual headlines on a positive note. There is much to talk about in each of our homes and it is a hard subject. Talking with young children about the incidents of the last week is uncomfortable, maddening, and ultimately, heartbreaking. How do you explain this type of behavior? How do you explain the failures and/or lack of judgment of others? How do you restore trust? In light of the damning allegations, should you speak to due process and avoid the court of public opinion?

We talked as a staff on Wednesday, and felt it was best for individual teachers to address issues and provide information when appropriate in the classroom rather than do any debriefing on a school-wide level. Children of different ages will have different understandings of recent events and we believe it’s best to for families to meet children at their own level. In the classroom, we will address these matters only when specifically approached by the students (for example, in circle time).

On a brighter note, I do want to share a wonderful thing that happened at PSU this past Tuesday. A few weeks ago, Ann Clements our Peace Choir Director and Professor of Music Education at Penn State, arranged for the Peace Choir visit Dr. Anthony Leach’s undergraduate class for future choral and music instructors. It was a great experience for all.

Thirty nervous kids got off the bus Tuesday morning and were led by Ann into the Esber Recital Hall in the PSU Music Building. After dropping their coats, the students hopped on stage and were assembled on risers. Our Assistant Choir Directors, Michael and Kate got the choir warmed up with a series of vocal and physical exercises and then they began to sing. Our students sang an opening song and were soon joined by Dr. Leach’s students on stage. The sound was amazing. The mature, well-trained voices of the PSU students blended and lifted our children’s voices to produce a lovely chorus that carried throughout the auditorium. After a song or two, Dr Leach (now known as Teacher Tony to our students) played the piano and coached the combined choir in a spirited rendition of This is the Day and Freedom. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the singing and rhythmic movements. I found myself swaying and singing along from the seats.

Our students were not the only nervous ones. Each of Tr. Tony’s students was to lead the combined choir in a song of their choosing. As I understand it, this was a first experience with elementary and middle school students for many of them. As they each took the lead, a different personal style emerged but an overall sense of respect, encouragement and enthusiasm prevailed among all the student teachers. This is a credit to Dr. Leach and the PSU School of Music. His students were prepared, engaged and professional. Collectively, they were able to lead the peace choir through several new songs in a very short period of time. The range covered everything from the depression era anthem Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen to Christmas carols such as Winter Wonderland.

Our school’s Peace Choir was also up for the task. The students did a great job. They remained attentive for the entire two hours and were eager and willing to listen and gamely attempted several new songs, sounds and movements. A real sense of cooperation and community filled the auditorium. At times, when a student teacher struggled with an instruction or had trouble finding the right note, our kids listened with even greater intensity to understand the instruction so they could all benefit. I was very proud of their attention and commitment to learning the new material. We were all rewarded by an encore from Tr. Tony as he led the combined choir through a completely improvised song.

My hat is off to Dr. Ann Clements, Dr. Leach, and his students. Our choir really enjoyed their time on the Esber stage and comments went from “awesome” to “Not as bad as I thought it would be.” (this is high praise from a middle school student). It is my hope that this first step will continue to build our relationship with the very awesome music department at Penn State. In these days when we hear the worst, it is important to remember that thousands of committed, hard-working students, teachers, and staff also represent Penn State and they will be there to continue the good works.

Announcements

Thankful Tuesday – Please make plans to join us for our Thankful Tuesday celebration on November 22. We begin with lunch with your students in the classroom and then we all enjoy classroom presentations in the community room beginning at noon. As with most school celebrations, we end with some singing. It is a wonderful warm event and I hope you can join us. Afterwards, parents can choose to take their students home if they need an early jump on the Thanksgiving travels.

School Photos – Here are picture dates for the classrooms.

K/1 – Tuesday, November 15th

2/3 – Friday, November 18th

4/5 – Tuesday, November 29th

MS – Wednesday, Nov. 30th

Make-ups – December 2, and December 6 and 7 as needed.

Sabine will be taking candid shots, as well as a more traditional shot of each child. The candid shots may be taken inside or outside at recess. All photos will eventually be posted by class on Sabine’s web site, freerangingphotography.com, in a password protected folder.

Family Workshop – the School’s Quaker Life committee will be hosting a light supper and discussion on Wednesday, November 30, at 5:30 pm. The discussion will focus on consumerism and include a viewing and discussion of the short film The Story of Stuff. The evening will begin with a simple meal provide by the committee and end by 7:30 Spi

Spices Success – Our annual SPICES Gala, held at the Atherton Hotel was a tremendous success, offering families and community members a chance to enjoy conversation, music, food and silent auction fun. Through ticket sales, silent auction proceeds and monetary contributions from those who could not attend, nearly $10,000 was raised (a record for the school). We expect to publish the final outcome on the web sometime early next week. Thank you for supporting our school through this friend raising and fund raising event. Cheers!

"Blessed are the flexible for they will not be bent out of shape"

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

Spices and traditions

2011-11-05T13:13:00.001-04:00

Headlines - Nov 4, 2011

New traditions

I am happy to report that our first annual pumpkin painting party was a success. We had over 100 children and parents from the Schoolhouse and school enjoy an evening of conversation, fun, pizza, and pumpkins. Thanks to all the parents who donated pumpkins and gourds to the cause. Thanks also go to Tr. Lori and Brittany for their help in organizing the party and leading the children in Halloween dances.

Halloween did look a little different at this year. There was no elaborately decorated hall and Baba Yaga was confined to the library, a place that made her very uncomfortable. However, the children definitely enjoyed the parade, dance, and classroom parties. The middle school students did a great job of decorating the community room and cleanup was completed by 3:00 pm. The teachers and administrators certainly appreciated the fact that Halloween was a one day event at school and we could all go out and enjoy some trick or treating later in the evening.

Announcements

SPICES OF LIFE GALA - Sunday, November 6th
Please join new and returning families for State College Friends School's annual "friend raising" and fund raising event, November 6th from 4:00 - 7:00 at the Atherton Hotel, downtown State College. SPICES is our Friends School celebration of the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship.

Thankful Tuesday – Please make plans to join us for our Thankful Tuesday celebration on November 22. We begin with lunch with your students in the classroom and then we all enjoy classroom presentations in the community room beginning at noon. As with most school celebrations, we end with some singing. It is a wonderful warm event and I hope you can join us. Afterwards, parents can choose to take their students home if they need an early jump on the Thanksgiving travels.

Don’t forget to turn the clocks back on Saturday night and to vote on Tuesday.

Dan

Mary's Turn

2011-10-28T12:08:00.002-04:00

HEADLINES……………….October 21, 2011

Dan departed early today to attend an out-of-state family event, so he asked me to write this week’s update…

You may have heard that we began Reading Buddy time last Friday. Each student in the school is paired with another, and for a half-hour each Friday afternoon, these pairs get together to share books and some play time. During these sessions, you often hear older buddies reading to their younger friends, but as younger buddies learn to read on their own, they get some good practice by reading to their older friend. Books are shared and children make recommendations to one another. It’s a half-hour that’s dedicated to reading for the joy of it, and it’s one of our favorite half-hours of the week.

I can’t remember exactly how I got the job of making the Reading Buddy matches, but I’ve done it for years and I love it. I think I’m a natural. Because of my Reading Buddy experience, I’ve come to believe that I probably descended from a long line of matchmakers. I’m sure I have ancestors who were the wrinkled old matchmakers of their little Irish fishing villages or maybe for all of County Donegal. I’ve begun considering professional matchmaking as a possible second career for me, once I retire from my first. I thought I could match-make for other aging baby boomers. The problem is that my success rate with adults isn’t that impressive. My strength seems to be with making matches between children, and I’m not sure that’s a very marketable skill.

It’s also possible that I’m just attracted to the puppetry and power involved in social engineering. It’s true that I’ve sometimes matched children because their names rhymed and I liked hearing them together. (It was just too hard to resist pairing Willie and Lilly, Kate and Nate, Eddie and Freddie. Or, my all-time favorite…Izzy and Dizzy.) On just a few occasions, I’ve matched children because of their complimentary hair colors and I wanted to see the watercolor effect of the two heads close together as they looked at a book. But I’m not normally that shallow, and I usually try to make matches based on my knowledge of personalities, interests, and life experiences. I think about who can serve as a role model and who might need one. I think of who’s struggling with a challenge and who just recently overcame a similar struggle. I try to balance quiet and boisterous, introvert and extrovert, focused and fluttery. Sometimes I make a match only because I think two people might just really like one another. I feel certain of the rightness of some matches as soon as I make them, while others are risky and I know it.

On Friday afternoons, I lurk around in classrooms assessing my work. Sometimes I watch love at first sight developing right before my eyes, while other pairs engage in a slower warm-up. Sometimes my risk-taking goes bad and I’ve made a few matches that left me shaking my head, asking myself, “What were you thinking?” And then I’ve made others that were brilliant (if I do say so myself) and led to long-term friendships. Today I watched a pair, a fifth grader reading to a kindergartner sitting in her lap. The fifth grader was an animated and dramatic reader, and her younger buddy was completely focused and engrossed in the book they were sharing. At the end of Reading Buddy time, as this pair was about to part, the older buddy leaned down so they could hug. The smiles and the looks of affection that passed between those two children were lovely and affirming and powerful. It’s that affection and kindness and care for one another that I hope will suffuse the school and create that special Friends School atmosphere that is often so hard to describe or explain. It was a special moment and a delicious way to end a week.

Call me Cupid.

Have a wonderful away-game weekend,

Mary Ziegler

Announcements & Reminders

Invitation: State College Friends Meeting invites interested Friends School families to an address titled “What Do Quakers Believe?” by Arthur Larabee, the General Secretary of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Art is a dynamic and entertaining speaker and his remarks will address Quaker faith and practice, and may help to answer your questions. This event will be held at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, October 23. Child care will be available. If you’ll need it, please contact the Meeting (office@statecollegefriends.org).

AnDa Union: On the morning of Tuesday, October 25, the whole school will attend a performance at Eisenhower Auditorium. We’ll be seeing AnDa Union, a group of young musicians from Inner Mongolia in northern China. Each year, the Center for the Performing Arts offers a slate of School-Time Matinees for students ranging from pre-K right up through high school. Due to the generosity of contributors to our Annual Fund, Friends School students are able to attend many of these events and reap the benefits of live performances by a variety of artists. On Tuesday, we’ll be leaving school at about 9:30 a.m. and should return close to 11:30.

Pumpkin Painting Party: All families and friends are invited to gather on Friday, October 28 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. for our first Pumpkin Painting Party. The Community Room will be open for all families to come and decorate pumpkins, enjoy a pizza dinner, and get into the spirit of Halloween. Pizza will be available for purchase by the slice. Small pumpkins and decoration materials will be on hand for your use. You’re also welcome to provide your own pumpkin.

We’ll be inviting our Friends Schoolhouse pre-school families to join us for pumpkin painting. Since this will be the first school event for many of them, please help us in welcoming them and helping them to feel comfortable.

Halloween: Friends School will be celebrating Halloween on the very day---Monday, October 31. You’ll receive information specific to your child’s classroom from your teacher, but we do have some all-school information to share.
Students may bring their costumes to school on Monday morning, but we won’t change into them until after lunch. Our younger students will parade through Foxdale, leaving from our front porch at about 1:00 p.m. Upon their return, we’ll hold the Monster Mash dance in the Community Room and that will be followed by classroom parties. Parents, costumed or not, are invited to join us for the afternoon or any part of it.

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Our fall parent-teacher conferences will be held on Thursday and Friday, November 3 and 4. If you haven’t yet scheduled yours, please call (237-8386) or stop by the school office to do so. Conferences are scheduled for a half-hour and they’re held in your child’s classroom. Please make every effort to arrive on time and stick to the half-hour time slot you schedule. Things can get backed up quickly otherwise.

There’s no school for students on conference days, but our child care program will be operating. If you’d like to register your child for child care---for all day, part of the day, or just during your conference time---please do so by November 1.

Anat Cohen Quartet: Two tickets to Thursday’s performance at Schwab by the Anat Cohen Quartet are still available to the first family to donate $100 to our Annual Fund.

SPICES: SPICES invitations should reach your homes this weekend. Please RSVP by October 31 to take advantage of FREE child care during the event.

Here are some of the SPICES FAQs we’ve been getting:

What should we wear? The SPICES Gala is a special, fun celebration. While the event is held in the lovely ballroom of the Atherton Hotel, guests are encouraged to wear their comfortable, special, fun, celebration clothes. Last year, that ranged from blue jeans and a dapper suede jacket, skirts or slacks with shiny adorned blouses and cozy seasonal sweaters, to more semi-formal evening wear with child-made and vintage art jewelry…in other words, a pretty big range. As one mother of an infant told a friend last year, “It’s anything without a baby food stain.”

How do we pay for auction items? Checks or cash, please. This year, there will be some small children’s art items available for direct sale in addition to the auction items. (Wrapping paper, note cards, etc.) We’ve also tried to secure auction items in many interest and price ranges

Is there child care available, and if so, what’s the cost and is it at the hotel? Yes. The child care staff will be here at Friends School offering age-appropriate activities. There is no charge for child care during the event.
Can I invite friends whose children aren’t students at Friends? Sure. Everyone’s welcome. This is a celebration of our school community and our local community and all the gifts within.
A list of auction items and links will be posted on the school’s website beginning October 25. Enjoy a sneak peak.
You may also have a look at photos from last year’s event at www.freerangingphotography.com. (This is the work of school parent Sabine Carey.)
Please call or email Lori Pacchioli with any other questions. lorip@scfriends.org

DVD Available: If you didn’t receive the 2010-2011 Reflections DVD at the fall pot-luck, they’ll be available at the family pumpkin painting night and at SPICES. Or, stop by Lori’s office for a copy. She’s also happy to send them to distant relatives. Just ask.

One Last Call: If you haven’t returned your Parent Interest/Volunteer Form and the Photo Release Form, please do so. Several families have informed us that they’re “on call” for the school any time and don’t feel the need to complete a Volunteer Form and that’s just fine, but we do need your Photo Releases. If you need a new set of forms or want to express any special interests or willingness to help with parent-run events such as the FUN FAIR, that would be most helpful. Just email lorip@scfriends.org.

Inservice Summary

2011-10-28T09:52:00.001-04:00

Headlines - October 14, 2011

What happens on school In-service days?

In-service days are dedicated work days for our teachers and staff. The work which we accomplish on these days usually centers on professional development and planning. This past Monday and Tuesday were no exception.

Monday was reserved for our teachers to be in their classrooms to reflect, organize, prepare and begin writing their fall reports about your children. I found many of our teachers hunched over desks and computers, beginning to write progress reports. Teachers spend a lot of time and effort writing reports. The end product is usually a concise and informative narrative about your child and how they learn. While I know parents are thrilled to find out how much their teachers know about their children, teachers also benefit from writing them. Narrative progress reports require teachers to focus intently on each student as they write. This helps teachers to know their students and gain a insight of their individual strengths and challenges. It is a day well spent.

Teachers at the Friends Schoolhouse also had a productive day on Monday. As a new program, there is still much refining and experimentation to be done. Our teachers had an open discussion on the program and decided to implement a few tweaks in the coming weeks.

Tuesday, all teachers attended an all-day workshop on Meta-cognition; thinking about thinking. Cornell professors Derek Caberra and Laura Colasi, gave a workshop in the DSRP method of deep understanding. We learned that thinking can be broken down into four areas:
• Distinction; identity/other
• Systems; part/whole
• Relationships; cause/effect
• Perspectives; point of view
Helping children to recognize, organize, and apply these thinking strategies can lead to deeper understanding, longer retention, and higher transfer of knowledge among subject areas. These strategies occur continuously in our brain while we are thinking and form the basis of our knowledge. In the workshop, teachers got an overview of the research and then practiced diagramming lessons using the DSRP method. I have already had teachers share with me their experiences using DSRP in their classroom. There is a flyer in your Friday folder that explains more.

Announcements

Pumpkin Painting Party – All families and friends are invited to the school on Friday, October 28th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm for our first pumpkin painting party. The community room will be open for the all families to come and decorate pumpkins, eat pizza, and get into the spirit of the season. Pizza will be available to purchase Pumpkins and decoration materials such as paint, fabric and paper will be on hand for your use.

Halloween – Halloween has always been a special holiday at Friends and this year will be no different. Monday the 31st will be our day of celebration. Children a re encouraged to bring their costumes to school with them. After lunch the younger grades will parade through Foxdale village. A Monster Mash in the community room will follow the parade and classroom parties will end our day. It will be an action packed afternoon and parents are encouraged to join in the fun. We will retain some traditional events such as the Foxdale parade and classroom parties and add some new ones. Look for more information soon.

Anat Cohen Quartet – the school just received two tickets to the Anat Cohen Quartet concert on Thursday October 27th at the Schwab Auditorium. These tickets will be given to the first family to donate $100.00 to our annual fund.
Spices - Our annual SPICES social and silent auction is just around the corner. Please make plans to join us on Sunday, November 6th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. A great evening of friends, community, music and food awaits. Please make plans to come.

Lunch Anyone? - Hot lunches and Pizza Fridays will be available at our school in November and December. Look for the flyer in your Friday folder.

Too Much Fun

2011-10-10T14:35:00.001-04:00

Headlines - October 7, 2011

Some weeks here are so fun that I just have to offer snippets to give you a sense of the many wonderful things I witness each week.

I accompanied the 5^th grade and middle school to the Renaissance Faire on Tuesday. During the fire juggling demonstration, the performer asked for volunteers and I was heartened and terrified when all the students pointed at me. I was also proud of the way our students “comported” themselves throughout the day. The fifth graders made a friend of one of the peasants and had him sit with us for lunch. He became our new friend and I think he was very pleased with the questions from our students.

Shant and Sam were at it again, and yesterday I had the pleasure of riding in their new and improved cart. At the top of the sledding hill, I grew apprehensive as I was locked into the cockpit by some last minute struts. The ride was fast, but manageable. I emerged unscathed and thanked them profusely.

On Thursday, Serena and Sage spotted me with a pencil in my mouth. I insisted that it was part of my mustache but they would have none of it. They told me it was against the rules and they wrote a note to Teacher Mary. Needless to say, Mary spoke to me this morning and I was in the doghouse for not being safe.

It’s a beautiful afternoon and our field day is in full swing. The middles schoolers are leading mixed- age groups of students in relays and games such as musical dots, and Duck, Duck, Goose. Every year this tradition helps all of our students to come together and make new friends. It’s really nice to see the interaction between the younger and older kids.

Announcements

Pot-luck Supper –Thank you to all the families who participated in our annual pot-luck supper. It was a very nice evening and the spread of food was amazing. These all-school events help to build our community.

Halloween – Halloween has always been a special holiday at Friends and many of us wonder how it got so over-the-top. The burden of preparation seems to fall on fewer and fewer each year and with the closing of the Haunted Granary (the source of most of our decorations), we feel it is time to establish some new simpler traditions. Halloween will look different this year. Monday, October 31^st will be our day of celebration. We will retain some traditional events such as the Foxdale parade and classroom parties and add some new ones. Look for more information soon.

Anat Cohen Quartet – The school just received two tickets to the Anat Cohen Quartet concert on Thursday, October 27^th at Schwab Auditorium. These tickets will be given to the first family to donate $100.00 to our Annual Fund.

Inservice Days – Reminder - Monday and Tuesday, October 10^th and 11^th are inservice days for our faculty and there will be no school for our students. Children who have registered to participate in the inservice child care program should bring along a lunch and snacks for the morning and the afternoon. And, they should be dressed appropriately for outdoor play.

Spices - Our annual SPICES social and silent auction is just around the corner. Please make plans to join us on Sunday, November 6^th from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Look for more information in today’s Friday folder.

Please enjoy the weather this weekend.

Dan

Sore Backsides and Inservice News

2011-10-03T10:20:00.002-04:00

Headlines - September 30, 2011

My duff hurts and there is a good reason.

Last week I noticed Sam S and Shant K making use of the large construction set that we acquired over the summer. It is really an amazing kit that can be used to build cars, skyscrapers and more. It’s like a combination of tinker toys and PVC piping. Sam, Shant and some classmates were trying to build a car and were having some success but could not seem to get their construction to actually hold their weight. Feeling quite sure of myself, I said I would give them a prize if they could make a car that could hold me. “It’s on” was their reply.

On Monday, Shant appeared at my door with a waiver in his hand. It was laid out in block letters on a large piece of poster paper. It specified that I would agree to hold Sam and Shant harmless for any and all injuries that may occur while riding on said cart. Having grown up with older brothers and being keenly aware of the need for self-preservation, I added a statement that Sam and Shant would be willing to test ride any cart prior to my test drive. We all signed the document.

Friday, they were ready for me. Sam and Shant chose the school sledding hill for the test. Teacher Nick was the unfortunate early trial. They pushed him halfway down the hill and everyone enjoyed a good laugh when he could not control the cart (steering was not an option) and ran into the small tree at the bottom of the hill. No one was hurt and they got busy making repairs. Near the end of recess, I was summoned and brought to the top of the hill. Their creation was impressive, they tripled up on the flat floor panels to hold my weight and most of the sides had reinforcing pieces of tubing. They gave me my instructions and I squeezed onto the cart. Before I had a chance to say wait they began pushing and I was moving down the hill. It was then that I realized that my well-being (if not my life) was in the hands of two 11 year old boys.

About half-way down, my speed exceeded the boys and I was freewheeling on my own. It was at this point, that the cart began to veer sharply to the right. In quick succession, the left wheel popped off and the cart stopped dead in its tracks. Seatbelts were also not an option and I proceeded to slide off the cart and coast for another five feet on my rear. I got up a little sore and with a nice grass stain on my pants. Strangely enough, I wanted to do it all over again. I hope they keep working on it.

Announcements

Parent Coffee- Please join me on the morning of Wednesday, October 5 for an informal parent coffee. Coffees are ways for parents to find out about our school and its programs. This month’s topic will be the school’s approach to classroom management. Parents will learn how teachers incorporate Quaker practices and the Responsive Classroom approach to form the unique environment of Friends. Parents will then have the opportunity to observe it in the classroom. Coffee and refreshments are served in the Library beginning at 8:15.

Inservice Days - Monday and Tuesday, October 10^th and 11^th are inservice days for our faculty and there will be no school for our students. We offer an inservice day child care program here at school on all inservice days. The program is based in our Community Room and runs from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Please note that school bus transportation is not provided on inservice days. The fee for our child care program is $4.00 per hour. If you’d like to use the program on October 10^th and/or 11^th, please register by Thursday, October 6^th . Children participating in the program should bring along a lunch and snacks for the morning and the afternoon. And, they should be dressed appropriately for outdoor play. It’s really important for you to register your child in advance for our child care programs. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Please call or email us.

Please have a wonderful weekend.

Dan

lessons learned

2011-09-24T09:01:00.001-04:00

Headlines - September 23, 2011

I came into work on Tuesday and found several notes stuffed into a handmade envelope in my mailbox. The envelope was from Teacher Dorothy’s class. It was carefully stapled together and included two notes and a drawing of 3 hearts. As I admired the art work, I began to read the note. “Dear Tr Den, Tr Dorothy broc her rols by sanding on the tabols. Icant blef thet she ded it . See yue latr”. It was signed by several students in the class.

I was reminded of last year when Teacher Dorothy and I were having some fun with the kids and I pretended to yell at her for standing on a table. I spoke in a low growl and Dorothy did a little cowering. Eventually, we made up and enjoyed a good laugh with the students. The kids all enjoyed watching Dorothy get in trouble and it must have made quite an impression. So, when Dorothy stepped on a table to hang something from the ceiling on Monday, they broke out the markers and began to writing their notes.

I think the first graders were hoping for a replay of last year. They were having lunch when I walked into the doorway and growled “Teacher Dorothy”. The class turned toward me and several students told me that she had indeed climbed on a table. Feigning disbelief, I asked for Dorothy for confirmation. As she admitted her deed, I could read Dorothy’s eyes and knew that she wanted to take advantage of a teachable moment. Instead of ‘yelling’, I asked her if she could tell me the school guideline that she chose not to follow. She answered “Be Safe”. I then told her that if she wasn’t safe and got hurt it would make us sad. I asked her to help me think of ways that she could be safe in that situation. Together we came up with strategies such as using a ladder, having a friend help, or asking tall Teacher Nick to do it. She decided to get help next time and I thanked the kids for telling me when people were not being safe. This turned into a wonderful moment for the class, as they got to see that even adults can make mistakes and that it is OK to let people know when someone is acting in an unsafe manner. I did miss yelling at Dorothy, though.

Announcements

Potluck Supper –The All-School Potluck is scheduled for next Friday, September 30th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together in a relaxed and informal manner. We hope you will join us to make new friends. We expect a record turnout!

· Please RSVP no later than Wednesday.

· Bring a dish to share keeping in mind we may have 200+ in attendance. So, bring plenty! (Label your belongings)

· Seating will be tight – consider a picnic style meal (blankets/lawn chairs) with your family.

· Bring your own dishes and place settings – cups too!

· In order to make the event run as smoothly as possible, we need families to help with set-up and clean-up. Indicate your willingness to do so when you RSVP. (4:30 set up; clean-up until approximately 8:30)

We look forward to seeing you there.

Forest Fest – On Sunday, September 25^th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm the PSU School of Forest Resources will host the PA Forest Festival at the Arboretum at Penn State. This is the International Year of the Forest and many university, business, and community groups will be on hand to participate in the festivities. The day will feature activities, food, music (Pure Cane Sugar @12noon) exhibits and maybe even some dancing trees.

Parent Coffee- Please join me on the morning of Thursday October 6 for an informal parent coffee. Coffees are ways for parents to find out about our school and its programs. This month’s topic will be the school’s approach to classroom management. Parents will learn how teachers incorporate Quaker practices and the Responsive Classroom approach to create the unique environment of Friends School. Parents will then have the opportunity to observe the techniques in action in the classroom. Coffee and refreshments are served in the Library beginning at 8:15.

Volunteers – I hope you all received Mary’s email this week seeking potential substitutes for our classrooms. I am also still looking for a few parents to help chaperone recess periodically. Please consider us if you have the time.

Please have a wonderful weekend.

In peace,

Dan

2011-09-19T10:06:00.000-04:00

HEADLINES………………………………………………………….September 16, 2011

(Dan’s just departed to get a head start on an out-of-town weekend. He asked if I’d be your substitute ‘Headlines’ writer for this week.)

“Teacher Mary, we found the snake.”

I was standing in the school’s main hallway on Thursday afternoon when a small group of middle school students approached me with that announcement. It’s one of those deceptively simple declarations that raises alarm and calms your fears all at the same time. It brought back memories of phone calls from my son that began with, “Everything’s OK, Mom. No one was hurt” or “Hi, Mom. The good thing is that nobody’s in jail”. In this case, too, no one was hurt and I was deeply pleased that the snake had been found and settled back into its cage (or’ jail’, I suppose, from the perspective of the snake.)

The snake in question was Spot, the ball python who lives in Teacher Bailey’s middle school science classroom. He’s not of the poisonous variety and Teacher Bailey assures me that he’s ‘friendly’, although I’ve never really put him to the test. (How can you truly determine that, after all? He can’t shake hands, give hugs, or provide me with an encouraging pat on the back. And I have never seen him smile.) In any event, on Wednesday, one of our middle school students was engaging in an unrequited embrace with Spot and didn’t latch his cage completely when she returned him to it. Spot saw his opportunity sometime that evening and he made a break for it. When his absence was discovered on Thursday morning, the middle school students formed a search party, but their sincere efforts failed to turn up any sign of Spot. Soon , Teacher Bailey appeared at my door, looking slightly abashed and asked if she could sit down. (The middle school science classroom has been the setting for some of my best Friends School stories, often the kind that make you think, “This will be funny someday.” When Teacher Bailey appears in my office with that look on her face and asks to sit down, my body goes into its ‘fight or flight’ response. I pretend to be listening serenely, but I am braced and poised to flee.) Teacher Bailey told me that Spot was missing, despite everyone’s best efforts to find him. She assured me that he wasn’t poisonous and she reminded me once again of his friendly nature. Then she also reminded me that Back to School Night was scheduled for that very evening and asked how I felt about having a hundred parents in the building with a snake at large.

Before we really had to confront the ethical dilemma of hosting a large event with an escaped serpent slithering around the building, Tinka Berger, parent volunteer extraordinaire (and snake charmer), found Spot. He was on a high shelf above the turtle cage in a shoebox full of rocks. I’m told he was smiling. And no one was hurt.

Announcements & Reminders

** Please plan to join us for our all-school potluck dinner on Friday, September 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in our Community Room.

**We had a great Back to School Night last night. Thanks to all of you who turned out to join us. We hope you enjoyed the evening and found it informative, helpful, and non-reptilian.

** We’ve had our first case of strep this week in one of the K/1 classrooms. This is the season for coughs, colds, and sniffles, but you might want to be a little extra vigilant right now.

I hope you all enjoy a lovely fall weekend.

Best,

Mary

9/11, back to school and dogs

2011-09-12T11:30:00.002-04:00

Headlines - September 9, 2011

Note found taped to the front of the teacher mailboxes:

Dear Teachers,

You have made the school year a great school year.

Your friends,
Liria and Katie

Enough said. . . .

Announcements

Back to School Night – Our annual Back to School Night is scheduled for next Thursday, September 15th. Please save the date, 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. Our schedule is as follows.
o All parents are asked to arrive by 7 pm sharp. There will be a short talk and introductions in the Community Room.
o From 7:15 – 7:45 there will be presentations in the K/1, 5th and middle school classrooms.
All other parents are invited to have coffee and mingle in the community room. Specialist teachers and administrators will be on hand to talk with you about school programs.
o From 7:45 – 8:15 there will be presentations in the 2/3 and 4th grade classrooms. All other parents are invited to mingle and have coffee.
We stagger our schedule to give multi-student families the ability to attend as many of the classroom presentations as possible. Due to space constraints, we cannot provide childcare on Back to School night.

Potluck Suppers – The K/1 potluck is tonight from 5:30 to 7 pm. Please bring a dish to share and table ware. The all-school potluck is scheduled for Friday, September 30th 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. We hope you will join us to make new friends.

Dogs: We seem to be a school of dog-lovers, but this year we have two students who don’t yet share our enthusiasm for our furry friends. If you bring your dog along when you pick up or drop off your child, please be certain that it’s leashed and under your control. Although some of us might love the sight of an exuberant dog barreling down the hallway, it could be overwhelming for a child with a fear of dogs. Also, please check with the teacher before entering a classroom with your pooch.

After School Pickup: -We love that fact that our parents often stop to talk when picking up their children afterschool. It builds community. However, it is very confusing for our staff when the children stay inside the community room and continue to play with the other children who are still waiting to be picked up. We ask that parents take their conversation and children outside during these times.

Peace Picnic - The Friends Meeting of State College and Interfaith Initiative of Centre County are hosting a Community Building Peace Picnic to which the interfaith and international public is warmly invited. It will be held on the Friends Meetinghouse lawn on September 11th from 1-5 pm. The event features community games, storytellers and music. Bring picnic food to share. Tables and tableware are provided. Lunch starts about 1:30 pm. Contact Cy Devries 404-5938 for more information.

Final note - I find that I can’t avoid thinking about 9/11 this week. If my daughter asks, I will frame our discussion in terms of senseless violence, innocent victims, everyday heroes, and long-term consequences. As a Jersey boy, I feel moved to leave you with a little Bruce this weekend:

“Up the stairs, into the fire
Up the stairs, into the fire
I need you near but love and duty called you someplace higher
Somewhere up the stairs into the fire

May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love”
Into the Fire - Bruce Springsteen

In peace,

Dan

Back to Business

2011-09-06T10:15:00.001-04:00

Headlines - September 2, 2011

Business as Usual- Yesterday I was leaving the school at mid-morning to visit the pre-school Get Acquainted Day and I had the pleasure of witnessing a familiar sight. I was standing at the front doors about to make the short walk to the front parking lot when one of our middle school boys, Devlin, flashed in front of me. I watched him go past and catch up with some of his classmates a little further down the sidewalk. On my right,a collective growl caught my attention and when I looked, I saw Dagny (another middle school student) being chased by a large roving band of 2nd and 3rd grade students led by Meg. Everyone was having a great time. The middle school students would wait long enough for the little ones to get close, and after they let out a most terrifying growl, the older students would feign distress and run a little further down the path. This leapfrog of activity continued for quite a while and I saw a smile on everyone’s face. Their play reminded me that we are both a school and a community. While I am always happy to see them playing together, I know this is business as usual at Friends.

Announcements

Drop off and Pick Up Information – Please check your child’s Friday Folder for information regarding school pick up and drop off procedures. Parents who are picking up or dropping off students during peak times should use the far parking lot for the safety of all of our students. Look for more details in the Friday Folder.

Back to School Night – Our annual Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 15th (not the 23rd as reported in my August letter). Please save the date, 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. Our schedule is as follows.

All parents are asked to arrive by 7 pm. There will be a short talk and introductions in the Community Room.
From 7:15 – 7:45 there will be presentations in the K/1, 5th, and middle school classrooms. All other parents are invited to have coffee and mingle in the Community Room. Our specialist teachers and administrators will be on hand to talk with you about school programs.
From 7:45 – 8:15 there will be presentations in the 2/3 and 4th grade classrooms. All other parents are invited to mingle and have coffee.

We stagger our schedule to give multi-student families the ability to attend as many of the classroom presentations as possible. Due to space constraints, we cannot provide childcare on Back to School night.

Potluck Suppers – Two potlucks are scheduled this fall. A Potluck for the K/1 classes will be held on Friday, September 9th from 5:30 to 7 pm. 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 30th 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. We hope you will join us to make new friends.

Dogs: We seem to be a school of dog-lovers, but this year we have two students who don’t yet share our enthusiasm for our furry friends. If you bring your dog along when you pick up or drop off your child, please be certain that it’s leashed and under your control. Although some of us might love the sight of an exuberant dog barreling down the hallway, it could be overwhelming for a child with a fear of dogs. Also, please check with the teacher before entering a classroom with your pooch.

Medication Policy Change: Due to a change in state regulations, Friends School has had to change its policy on administering medication to children. State law now prohibits us from giving children any medication. We cannot administer over-the-counter medications, nor can we give children medications that have been prescribed for them. We will be able to use Epi-Pens and we’ll also be able to help children with their use of inhalers as necessary. We can still apply topical ointments and Band-Aids. We know that this may make things inconvenient for parents and we apologize. Unfortunately, this is out of our hands. Parents are always welcome to come in to school to give medication to their children.

Head Lice: When children return to school in the fall, head lice often come with them. Our students have returned from many different summer programs, summer camps, vacation spots, and traveling locally and internationally. They had lots of opportunities to pick up head lice in all sorts of exotic locations, and a few of the critters took advantage of those opportunities. We’ve had a couple of confirmed cases since school began, and we’ve begun checking heads at school. We’d like to ask for you to keep an eye on things at home, too. Check your child periodically, treat immediately, and let us know if your child’s been affected.

Please have a great weekend!

Dan

Heat lines

2011-07-26T14:03:00.002-04:00

Heatlines - Summer Edition 2011

Lot’s of good stuff. . .

Summer Camp – Today I set up shop at the front desk and enjoyed a new perspective to our school and summer program. I especially enjoyed watching a seemingly endless parade of campers in our courtyard going to and fro running, playing games, having lunch and enjoying sprinklers. It made me tired to watch them. It has been especially hot this week. This was confirmed for me when I heard a girl from camp asking her dad to go to the Y pool after camp because it is “too hot to go outside to Welch”. Even with the hot weather, we are taking advantage of the relatively cool mornings and using the hot afternoons in creative ways. My hat is off to Teacher Becky Conner and her staff for doing a brilliant job this year. There are still a few openings for the final week, August 8 – 12.

Pre-K Program – In addition to getting our school cleaned and ready for the new school year, we have been taking on a major project in cleaning and preparing for our new Friends Schoolhouse Pre-K program. Our director Lynne Bradley and many others are hard at work cleaning, painting, sorting and planning for our new program. Plans are to have give everyone a peek at the “Come and Play Day” on Tuesday, and have our Student Get Acquainted Day on September 1.

Growing Friendlier - The State College Friends Meeting invites school families and friends to join them for Growing Friendlier, Tuesday through Friday, August 9-12th from 5 to 7:30pm at the Friends Meetinghouse. It will be four evenings of food, fun and learning more about Quakerism. Therese Miller will lead workshops on The Quaker Experience and Quaker Testimonies on Tuesday and Wednesday evening and Ellen Argentineau will lead us in deepening our sharing on these topics on Thursday evening. Kerry & Gabrielle Wiessmann will have activities for the Younger Friends and childcare will be provided for the very youngest. Each session will begin with dinner cooked by Judy Melville and Friday will be a Meeting-wide potluck with games for all to follow. Friends and interested families are welcome to join us in this opportunity to learn more about & deepen our understanding of Quakerism. RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary; please RSVP to office@statecollegefriends.org. If you have any questions contact Doris Malkmus at dmalkmus@verizon.net.

Summer Mailings –As always, you can expect a packet of information from the school to arrive in your mailbox in mid-August. This packet will include a parent handbook, forms to complete, a class list and a letter from me. You will also receive a letter and information from your child’s teacher this summer. It will either be included in the school mailing or will arrive separately.

Families Needed - We’re very happy to report that we’ve enrolled quite a few new students for next year, at different grade levels. We have some great kids and families who will be joining us in the fall, and we’re thinking about how to welcome them and help them learn the ropes of Friends School. We would like to pair new families with a current family who might help introduce them to Friends School and get acclimated. This would not require a huge time commitment on your part. You might start out with a phone conversation, maybe a get-together at a park or playground, and anything else you might like to do. Then, we hope you’d help your new family navigate the all-school potluck this fall. If you’re interested, please respond to Mary (mziegler@scfriends.org) and she will try to match you with a family that has children close in age to your own.

Help Wanted - The State College Friends School is currently seeking assistant teachers for our elementary classrooms. These are part-time (20 -25 hr/week) support positions. Duties include direct instruction, lesson preparation, recess and lunch supervision, clean up, and support of the classroom teacher and environment. Ideal candidates should demonstrate a familiarity with teaching strategies and embrace Quaker values and educational practices. All interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume and philosophy statement to the school.

I notice that we are past the Arts Fest and summer is half over. Oh no! Let’s get going!

Dan

Graduation and some important news

2011-06-17T14:19:00.002-04:00

It’s a long one but worth the read . . . .

A Fitting Ceremony - Preparations for graduation kept us busy during the last week of school. It was a lovely ceremony and the speeches given by our graduates, Katicia Sakona and Kenneth Vasey, were heartfelt and moving. Mary gave a wonderful talk about her time at the front desk this year and so many parents pitched in to make the room look especially festive. Graduation never seems to disappoint.

Busy, Busy - Despite the arrival of summer break, it has been busy around here. Last week we had a full slate of in-service meetings with our teaching staff. During those meetings we debriefed the previous year and planned ahead for next year. A exciting piece of news is our plan to add Chinese to our curriculum. Look for more information later.

Summer Camp - Camp started this week and we are all having a great time. This year’s camps are exciting with many opportunities to make new friends. There are still a few opening in selected weeks. . .

Academic Success - In April, a standardized math thinking test was given to all 5th grade students in the State College School District. State College Friends School had the highest average score among all schools in the district. According to the results we received, the classes’ average score was double the average for the school district.

The State College High School Honor Roll for the third marking period has been posted and I am happy to report that 70% of our graduates are on the High Honor Roll. In addition, 71% of students who attended Friends for 4 or more years were named to the Honor Roll for this marking period. We would also like to congratulate State College High School Valedictorian Christoph Schlom. Chirstoph is an alum who studied Algebra with me while he was in the sixth grade. His knowledge, ability, and work ethic were impressive then and still are today. Along with being his class’s scholar and a National Merit Finalist, Christoph helped the State College Academic Quiz Bowl Team take home their first national title. We wish him all the best next year at Princeton.

Teacher News - I am pleased to announce that Assistant Teacher Elli Bragg is expecting a baby this December. If baby cooperates, Elli will begin the school year with us and work through the Thanksgiving break. Then she will be staying at home with her child and continue her graduate studies as a reading specialist. We wish her the best and will continue to monitor water at that end of the building as this will be the fourth baby associated with the 2/3 classrooms in as many years.

Pre-School News – We are pleased to announce that Lynne Bradley is joining our school family as the Director of our Pre-School. Lynne has over 15 years of experience in childcare, most recently at the Montessori School of Nittany Valley where she worked for 6 years as a lead teacher. Lynne also has experience training and supervising other pre-school teachers and has served as Director of Childcare Services for several YMCAs in New Jersey and Connecticut. Lynne is certified in Pennsylvania as a Childcare Director and holds a degree in Early Childhood Education. Lynne will be starting this July and working with the rest of us to get the program and facility into shape for our grand opening this August.

Summer Mailings –As always, you can expect a packet of information from the school to arrive in your mailbox this August. This packet will include a parent handbook, forms to complete, a class list and a letter from me. You will also receive a letter and information from your child’s teacher this summer. It will either be included in the school mailing or will arrive separately. Please look for them this August.

I wish you all a wonderful summer. Please stay cool and don’t forget to read.
Dan

2011-05-22T09:51:00.002-04:00

Headlines - May 20, 2011

It seems that I write about this subject often and with good reason. Every week, every day I have a new reason. Here is the latest.

Teacher Mary relayed to me that during the Middle School’s visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC last week, (our students were well prepared by Tr. Bailey) she was saddened by the behavior of the other school groups she observed in the Hall of Remembrance. This marble hall is a commemorative shrine intended for silent contemplation and prayer. However, her feelings changed to true admiration for our (your) students as she watched them sit in silent worship amid all the commotion.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to accompany the 2/3 classes and the 4th grade on a field trip to Philadelphia. As usual, the bus ride was exciting and raucous and I had doubts. However, outside the bus, I was deeply proud of the group I was chaperoning. The kids always remembered to be polite, were focused on staying together, and listened to their leaders without question. Our trip began at a climbing gym and it was awesome. I can’t tell you the level of pride and humility I experienced watching Anna out-climb me (it wasn’t even close). Then I watched Claudia, Caitlin, Shant, Seiji and all the others achieve more than I would have ever expected. Some walls were over 40 ft high! At the end, we took pictures with our belayers and the manager told me how wonderful it was to host our kids. Later, we successfully navigated the subway system, ate lunch in a restaurant, and rode a city bus to end up at the Franklin Institute. The kids behaved wonderfully and we all arrived with smiles. I also know the 2/3 classes had similar successes on their trip. It has always been my experience that our school is well-represented during field trips, with leaders often specifically mentioning to me their pleasure with our students. While I always expect good behavior, I am continually amazed by the level of responsibility our students display on field trips.

And I haven’t even started talking about the plays - What a great bunch of kids!

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS

Play Season – Play season is winding down. Teacher Sunna, Teacher Dorothy, and Teacher Nick’s classes presented their plays this week. If you haven’t had a chance, there is still time to catch one.

Monday May 23 Tr. Kelly’s 2/3 class
Wednesday May 25 Tr.s Bailey and Christy’s Middle School
All plays begin at 1pm

School camping trip – Our annual overnight will be held on May 26-27 at Camp Blue Diamond near Petersburg, PA. If you haven’t yet returned your permission forms, please send them in on Monday. (We can’t take kids without them!) We’d love some parent help during the trip.

Enrollment Contracts – Enrollment contracts and deposits for most families were due on May 15th. If you have not done so already, please return your signed contract and deposit as soon as possible.

Peace Choir - A Pizza Party for the Peace Choir will be on Tuesday, May 31st at 12:30 PM

Summer Camp – Our Summer Camps are filling quite quickly, and some weeks, in fact, are officially full. If you’re planning to register your child, please let us know right away so we can save a space for you.

School Fun – the Blue/White Soccer Game and Water Games will be held the afternoon of June 1st. Teacher Nick’s final soccer session will feature a blue/white scrimmage at the school starting at 1:00 PM. Afterwards, there will be snacks and students will have the opportunity to participate in water games to finish the day. Bathing suits and towels are recommended.

Graduation – Our 8th grade graduation ceremony will be held on Friday June 3rd beginning at 10:00 AM. More details to follow.

Enjoy the weekend.

Dan

Play Season and Fun Fair

2011-05-09T12:26:00.000-04:00

Headlines - May 6, 2011
** Fun Fair is Tomorrow, May 7!!! We’re hoping for good weather and a great crowd!

Play Season – Every may each class presents a play for the rest of the school. It is a tradition at our school. While play month can be hectic and stressful for our teachers and scholars, we find that the benefits far out-weigh the frustrations. Every student learns about teamwork, cooperation and responsibility. They gain confidence as they master their lines and perform in a public setting. Finally they gain a sense of accomplishment from their hard work on their annual productions. Over the years I have watched dozens of plays and still marvel at the presence and ability of our thespians. If you haven’t had a chance, come and see for yourself.

Tuesday May 10 Tr. Sunna’s 2/3 class
Wednesday May 18 Tr. Nick’s 4th grade class
Friday May 20 Tr. Dorothy’s k/1 class
Monday May 23 Tr. Kelly’s 2/3 class
Wednesday May 25 Tr.s Bailey and Christy’s Middle School

All plays begin at 1pm

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS

Fun Fair - Please come and join us – Bring your all your friends! We have lined up amazing entertainment by Pure Cane Sugar, The Penn State Performing Magicians, The Dirty Blonde Band, and our very own Peace Choir! Volunteer work schedules, as well as information for our 4th through 8th grade student volunteers, went home last week in Friday Folders. Please be sure to take a look at your assignment!

School camping trip – Our annual overnight will be held on May 26-27 at Camp Blue Diamond near Petersburg, PA. You’ll be receiving details in the mail within the next week, but you may want to block out some time on your calendars now. We’d love some parent help during the trip.

Enjoy the weekend and Happy Mother’s Day.
Dan

"I didn't know"

2011-04-23T12:31:00.001-04:00

Headlines - April 15, 2011

“I didn’t know”
I always enjoy the look of pleased astonishment on parent’s faces when they see firsthand what their children are accomplishing at school and they mouth those words: “I didn’t know”. Often we are not privy to the great things that go on in the classroom every day. However, this week there were several opportunities for parents to come to school and consequently, I heard this phrase often.

Our fourth grade students participated in the school’s 14th Annual Rube Goldberg Contest. Each year students learn about simple machines in science and then apply their knowledge in a fun and engaging competition to perform a simple task; closing a book. Parents were invited to witness the competition that featured highly decorated and themed contraptions with over ten transfers of energy, mouse traps, balloons, dominoes and other ingenious details. Many of our parents expressed delight in the complexity of the projects and how well the students performed. They didn’t know.

As part of national poetry month, our middle school held its third annual Poetry Slam. Each student wrote and performed an original poem for the whole school. Some were enlightening, some were personal, some were humorous, and all were heartfelt. You could feel the energy and hear the preparation that went into the work of each student. It takes a certain amount of courage to share their thoughts in front of the school. They did an excellent job. Several parents who attended were very impressed by the readings and poems and didn’t know that our students could develop and perform poetry with such flair and confidence.

A few weeks back, several middle school students got together and nominated teacher Bailey for Barnes and Noble’s Teacher of the year award. It was a pleasure to tread their essays and understand the commitment and trust that exists in the relationship between Bailey and her students. Good luck to Bailey and thanks to her students for their support. You can find the essays on our web site http://www.scfriends.org

And now you know.

Announcements

Earth Day – This national event will be held on Friday, April 22. We are planning a day focused on becoming aware of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (our watershed) and the impact we all have on it as well as the earth in general. We are planning water testing field trips, service projects around the school grounds, and a musical celebration at the end, including a snack of "dirt". We need some extra help in the form of field trip chaperones, service project helpers, tool lenders, and "dirt" preparers for the snack. Next week we will be sending home an e-mail with a sign-up sheet (no paper for Earth Day), so please keep an eye out for it and consider lending a hand (or tool) for this event. Thank you. The Earth Day Committee

Quaker Parenting Workshops –WE need you to sign UP! Parents, this is an excellent opporuntity for you to explore Quaker values and how they can assist you in childrearing. The workshop will be Facilitated by the Quaker Parenting Initiative, it will be held at the school from 7 to 9 PM on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, April 20th and 21st. These workshops are free and open to the public with childcare available. Please call the school to reserve your spot. If you are able to distribute flyers around town, please let Lori know. lorip@scfriends.org

Open House – The school will be hosting an Open House for grades K-8 on Friday, April 29th from 10am till 1 pm. This is for anyone who may be interested in finding out more about Friends education and the program we offer. Please share this date.
Fun Fair –It’s time to sign up. The Fun Fair is one of our main community events and a Friends School tradition. The Fair generates community interest and support, unites families and is fun for families. We hope every family shares in this community-wide event. Look for emails from Diane and other parent organizers.

Enjoy the weekend.
Dan

Earth Day and our Community

2011-04-23T12:23:00.003-04:00

Headines______________ April 22, 2011

Earth Day – Well, the weather has not been too cooperative today. We chose a longer Meeting for Worship focusing on caring for the earth instead of trying to navigate torrential streams and cold this morning. Afterwards, Sarah Koenig, Ava’s mom, shared a personal story about the naming of Earth Day. Sarah’s father was an advertising copywriter in the late sixties when he was contacted by the senator of Wisconsin regarding an environmental teach-in. The organizers were searching for a good name for the event. It was scheduled for April 22nd and since that was his birthday, he made the intuitive leap from birth day to “Earth Day”. He presented and they loved it. Later, they ran the full page ad in the NY Times and Earth Day was born.

A Community of Learners - Most weeks I write about some of the great things your students accomplish at school, but this week I am reminded that we are a community of learners.
Last Friday, our teaching staff went on an in-service trip to Media-Providence Friends School located outside of Philadelphia. Our teachers enjoyed a morning of observing classrooms of their counterparts at another Friends School. After lunch we all learned about Media’s Quaker Education program. It was a long journey but very beneficial for the chance to observe other teachers and develop some camaraderie among our staff.
This week we also held a two-night Quaker parenting workshop for our adult community. Over twenty parents attended each night and learned about the relationship between our values and beliefs, and how they can inform our parenting choices. We each learned the importance of being clear about our family’s values and the need to have discussions regarding our parenting, and the values we want our children to have in the future. There is talk of forming a parenting group in our community. We will keep you informed.

Announcements
Grandparents and Special Friends Day - Please make plans to join us this Monday, April 25th for this annual event. From 9 to 11:30 am, grandparents and friends are invited into the classroom to enjoy a day at school with your special friend. At noon, after recess, guests are invited to enjoy a buffet lunch in the community room where they will be serenaded by our school’s Peace Choir. This is always a fun day at school and we look forward to seeing you here.

Open House – The school will be hosting an Open House for grades K-8 on Friday, April 29th from 10 am till 1 pm. This is for anyone who may be interested in finding out more about Friends education and the program we offer. Please share this date.

Fun Fair - We can guarantee the FUN part…but we really need everyone to think sunshine for the Fun Fair on May 7! Please check your child’s Friday Folder for flyers that you can post to help us spread the word about this much loved Friends School tradition. And remember, word of mouth is ALWAYS the best form of advertising, so be sure to share the information with friends and neighbors.

Friendly Fun Reminders…
Ø Fun Fair Prizes and Silent Auction items can be dropped off at the front desk. Don’t forget about the Bake Sale. What family favorite will you choose to contribute to the sale this year?
Ø We will assemble the food booths this Saturday from 4 to 7. Feel free to stop by and lend a hand!
Ø We are looking for people to help distribute additional flyers throughout our local communities. Please let Diane know if you can help out!
Ø And of course…if you haven’t returned your volunteer form, please be sure to do so as soon as possible.

Summer Camp – Tr. Becky is planning an incredible summer filled with lots of nature activities, games, art, music, field trips, swimming and more. We have amazing staff hired, and the camps filling quickly. Theater camps are full, and only a few spots remain in some of the Kids Camps and Wee Friends Camps. We really hope to see many of our school families for some summer fun!

Enjoy the weekend.

Dan

2011-04-08T14:07:00.001-04:00

Headlines - April 8, 2011

Write On – Part 2
Following on the heels of our visiting author, we celebrated Everybody Writes Day on Monday of this week. Upon their arrival, students found the school askew with threads, webs, strange signs, and toppled furniture. At the morning assembly, students were asked to play the part of detectives to solve the mystery. They scoured the school for clues, interrogated teachers and staff, decoded signs, watched security film and used selected clues to crack the case. After the appearance of a large and very energetic butterfly that had a strong resemblance to a certain teacher, most students decided that our teachers set it up to encourage and teach them about investigative writing. Thanks to Teachers Christy and Nick for their efforts on this special day.

The High School Honor Roll for the second marking period is now posted on the State College School District’s web site and I am happy to report that nineteen of our twenty two (86%) Middle School graduates earned a place on the Honor Roll. Seventeen (77%) earned high honors! Additionally, 46 out of 56 (82%) of our former long-term students (4+years) are on the honor roll with 41 (73%) earning high honors. Congratulations to all of our students and thanks to all of our teachers for helping them to compile that wonderful record.

Announcements

Poetry Slam – On April 14th, the middle school students will be presenting their annual poetry slam for the school community. Student-created poems and raps will be presented in a faux coffee house atmosphere.

Earth Day – This national event will be held on Friday, April 22. We are planning a day focused on becoming aware of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (our watershed) and the impact we all have on it as well as the earth in general. We are planning water testing field trips, service projects around the school grounds, and a musical celebration at the end, including a snack of "dirt". We need some extra help in the form of field trip chaperones, service project helpers, tool lenders, and "dirt" preparers for the snack. Next week we will be sending home an e-mail with a sign-up sheet (no paper for Earth Day), so please keep an eye out for it and consider lending a hand (or tool) for this event. Thank you. The Earth Day Committee

Quaker Parenting Workshops – Parents, please plan to attend and help spread the word about the upcoming parenting workshop: Integrating Quaker Values into Family Life. Facilitated by Harriet Heath of the Quaker Parenting Initiative, it will be held at the school from 7 to 9 PM on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, April 20th and 21st. These workshops are free and open to the public with childcare available. Please call the school to reserve your spot. If you are able to distribute flyers around town, please let Lori know. lorip@scfriends.org

Open House – The school will be hosting an Open House for grades K-8 on Friday, April 29th from 10am till 1 pm. This is for anyone who may be interested in finding out more about Friends education and the program we offer. Please share this date.
Fun Fair –It’s time to sign up. The Fun Fair is one of our main community events and a Friends School tradition. The Fair generates community interest and support, unites families and is fun for families. We hope every family shares in this community-wide event. Look for emails from Diane and other parent organizers.

Enjoy the weekend.
Dan

2011-04-08T14:05:00.001-04:00

Headlines - April 1, 2011

Write On!
Many thanks to visiting author Sam Swope. He provided the whole school with an engaging and informative presentation this morning about being an author and spent the remainder of the day visiting classrooms and providing students with activities and ideas for their writing. It is always inspiring to meet someone who can harness the power of words.

Crazy Hair Day
Hair is an event that is getting quite a reputation and following. It started several years ago, and after an initial spike, the buzz has grown and gelled to become a mane part of our school year. This year we tried to trim the event by cutting school endorsements and layering the day with other events such as a visiting author. However, our efforts to unbraid the day and make it less dis-tressing for our crew of teachers, has done little to color, bleach or curl the students’ enthusiasm. Despite our best efforts, the day proved to be too moose fun and is now a lock for next year. (Sorry, I couldn’t stop once I got started).

Congratulations to music teacher Ann Clements who gave birth to a healthy baby boy last Tuesday. Charles Goddhardt Wall V arrived at 10:51 pm weighing 10lbs, 11 ounces and measuring 23.5 inches. We wish Ann, Chaz, and Charles all the best.

Announcements

Everybody Writes Day – This new event for our school is scheduled for Monday, April 4th. We have several surprises for this all-day event that link into a national effort to encourage and support writing in schools.
Poetry Slam – On April 14th, the middle school students will be presenting their annual poetry slam for the school community. Student-created poems and raps will be presented in a faux coffee house atmosphere.

Open House – the School will be hosting an Open House for grades K-8 on Friday, April 29th from 10am till 1 pm. This is for anyone who may be interested in finding out more about Friends education and the program we offer. Please share this date.
Quaker Parenting Workshops – Parents, please plan to attend and help spread the word about the upcoming parenting workshop: Integrating Quaker Values into Family Life. Facilitated by Harriet Heath of the Quaker Parenting Initiative, it will be held at the school on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, April 20th and 21st. These workshops are free and open to the public with childcare available. If you are able to distribute flyers around town, please let Lori know. lorip@scfriends.org
Friday Folders – Parents make sure to check Friday folders this week. You will find a school car magnet and other important information.

Deadlines – Here is a reminder that the deadlines for the following programs are approaching:
Soccer program - Monday
Watershed clean-up registration – Monday
Last chance to purchase school photos – Now

Fun Fair – I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fun fair scheduled for May 7th this year. This is one of our main community events and is a Friends School tradition. The Fair generates community interest and support, unites families and is fun for families. Don’t miss out on your chance to participate. We hope every family shares in this community-wide event. Look for emails from Diane and parent organizers in the near future.

Enjoy the Final Four this weekend.
Dan

2011-03-27T00:02:00.000-04:00

HEADLINES-------------------------------------March 25, 2011

Dan is attending a conference in San Francisco for a few days. I’m here, though, writing Headlines in his place…and thinking about ducks.

You may know that the little school pond that is just outside my office window has attracted a pair of mallards each spring for the last three years. I can’t be certain it’s the same pair each year, but I like to think that it is. They turn up in mid-March to paddle around on the pond, snack on what they find floating in the water, and nap on the rocks in the early spring sun. They’re signs of spring for me now, like robins, forsythia, and the first crocus. I’m a little concerned about their mating behavior, though, and I’ve been trying to teach them the concept of “a time and a place for everything”. I don’t want them to be demonstrating when the children are out for recess.

These two ducks are determined to procreate and they sometimes begin that process on our little pond. I never really mean to watch them, but they’re not very discreet and they’re usually very vocal in their enthusiasm. Duck mating (for those of you who may not have studied it as extensively as it appears that I have) is…well, kind of energetic. In fact, it could be seen as violent if you didn’t know that everyone involved actually had good intentions. Nevertheless, I found that I was uncomfortable with the idea of our youngest children witnessing it, even though young children seem especially well-equipped to accept the vagaries of the natural world in a most matter-of-fact way.

Parents and teachers travel some very tricky territory as we decide when children are ready for certain pieces of information. This extends far beyond duck mating, of course. We wrestle with the question when we teach children about slavery or other violations of human rights, about war or the Holocaust, about natural disasters and man-made tragedy. We ask when children are ready to be told the terrible stories of human history, and whether they are resilient enough to then be lifted up adequately by stories of inspiration and greatness. We know that the answer is not simply a number, not just a chronological age. Children aren’t ready for hard news just because they’re 8, or just because they’re four feet tall, or just because they’re in 6th grade. Children are ready when we see signs that they have an emotional strength, a kind of hardy wisdom that will help them to internalize and synthesize difficult or shocking facts in a manner that also protects their own inner light and individual sense of security.

One of the many things I treasure about Friends School classrooms is that teachers ask those “When?” questions. Difficult information is handled delicately and thoughtfully, and shared when students show signs of being ready. The curriculum doesn’t dictate that students read Macbeth in 7th grade, or that Hiroshima is ‘taught’ in November of 6th grade, or that no one will use the word ‘reproduction’ in the presence of children younger than 10. Instead, children’s questions are answered as they’re asked, information is given in doses that can be ingested without choking, and students are given the opportunity to question and discuss, to gasp or weep in the embrace of an aware and caring community. This sensitivity matters, of course, to the emotional well-being of children, but it also leads to a richer, deeper education. Children can’t learn information they’re not ready to hear. There is wisdom in waiting until it’s time.

And for me, as morning recess approaches, it is time to chase away that duck, the one with the gleam in his eye.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS:

**Congratulations to Teacher Shelley Roderick and Abe Falcone---and brothers Sequoia and Everest---on the birth of Kailani Rain who was born on March 12. Kailani weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. Mom, baby, and the entire family are happy and healthy.

**For those of you who think ahead, our just-approved 2011-2012 Friends School calendar is attached.

**The International Children’s Fair will be held on Saturday, April 2 from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at State College High School’s South Building. The event includes performances, crafts, and much more for kids and families. Admission fee is $5 per family, or $3 for an individual. This event is sponsored by Global Connections and PSU’s Office of Global Programs.

**Teacher Dorothy’s and Teacher Lisa’s K/1 classes have received grants through ClearWater Conservancy’s Connections program to fund field trips to Millbrook Marsh this spring. The following corporations and individuals supported this ClearWater program: The Hershey Company, State of the Art, Centre County Community Foundation, State College Evening Rotary, Mary Alice Graetzer, and Cliff & Doris Wurster. We thank all of them on behalf of our K/1 students!

**We have a number of part-time positions available this summer on our maintenance crew and our summer camp staff. Please contact Diane Lehman for specifics or if you have people to recommend.

**We haven’t sent home overflowing Friday Folders in recent weeks, so you may be out of the habit of checking them regularly. The folders are full of good stuff this week, though, so remember to take a look.

Enjoy this last weekend of March!

Mary Ziegler

Snippets

2011-03-21T08:26:00.001-04:00

Headlines - March 18, 2011

Our weeks are full of little observations and interactions. This week I did not get the opportunity to spend a lot of time in any one classroom but did experience the school through many small interactions. While many moments pass and are soon forgotten, others are held because they provide a smile or remind us of our better selves. I’d like to share some of these snippets from the week at Friends.

* Watching Mattie and Melica searching with magnifying glasses for signs of leprechauns in the hallway.
* Seeing other students racing on the playground to discover more leprechaun signs.
* Coaching our final basketball practice with the upper school students and marveling on how much they have improved since our first meeting.
* Hearing the whole school sing Kum baya with new lyrics written by Anna N.; “Let’s be peaceful, Whole wide world.”
* Giving students Sam S. and Shant K. wheelbarrow rides as part of the 4th grade’s study of levers.
* Seeing ducks return to the koi pond and knowing this is a sign that spring is coming.
* Reviewing with Dungan the odds for the NCAA tournament and deciding that betting doesn’t usually pay. Although 5000 to 1 is tempting.
* Shelving heavy boxes for an hour in the food bank with 5 middle school students and not hearing complaints.
* Seeing students walking through the school arm in arm every day, all the time.

These are just a few of the moments each week with which I am rewarded and I invite you to come to school and gather your own momentss

Announcements

Free Winter Play Day – Tomorrow from 9:30 to 11:30 AM Friends School is hosting a Saturday Play Day for children from 3-7 years old. This is a great opportunity to bring a friend to the school and enjoy a morning of play. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome.

Visiting Author – Sam Swope, Sam’s uncle and author of children’s books, will be visiting the school on Friday, April 1. He will give an all-school assembly in the morning and will visit individual classrooms the rest of the day.

Everybody Writes Day – This new event for our school is scheduled for Monday, April 4th. We have several surprises for this all-day event that link into a national effort to encourage and support writing in schools.

Poetry Slam – On April 14th, the middle school students will be presenting their annual poetry slam for the school community. Student-created poems and raps will be presented in faux coffee house atmosphere.

“Let’s be peaceful, whole wide world”

Dan

What a Week!

2011-03-10T09:20:00.002-05:00

Headlines - March 4, 2011

I am borrowing this opening line from Tr. Kelly’s weekly letter, but it is deserved. Our week started with Monday’s Science Fair and ended with Spanish Day on Wednesday. In between, our upper grades attended a performance of Three Cups of Tea and the lower classes enjoyed a visit from PSU reading buddies on Tuesday. Besides the Spanish assembly and being the last day before break, Wednesday’s power outage added significantly to the excitement of day. After all, what could be more exciting than going to the bathroom with flashlights? The week went by in a flash and I believe we will all be welcoming a little bit of time to recharge the batteries. We’ll need them for the next power outage.

Thank you, Teacher Bailey, for a wonderful Science Fair. Over 50 projects were on display and the event went smoothly thanks to your planning.
Thank you, Teacher Cathy, for your efforts on the all-school Spanish Day. It was great to see the whole school take part in this new extravaganza.

Last night I had the opportunity to accompany the Middle School students to answer phones during a pledge drive at WPSU-TV. It was exciting for them to learn how to answer calls, take the information, complete forms and ring the donation bell. We were well cared for throughout the evening and had a blast taking pledges and being part of the event. I was proud of the way our students carried themselves and put out a good message about Friends School. It was a great way to head into the break.

Announcements

Brown Bag Lunch Gathering - The Development Committee invites all interested parents to attend an informal lunch (March 15th) get-together to discuss development and marketing-related areas in need of support. Please contact Pam Adams pjadams@yahoo.com for details.

Open Houses – Our next Open House is for the K-8 program at the Friends School
Friday March 18th 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Free Winter Play Day – On Saturday, March 19th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM Friends School is host a Saturday Play Day for children from 3-7 years old. This is a great opportunity to bring a friend to the school and enjoy a morning of play. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome. Please contact the school at (814) 237-8386.
Enjoy the break!
Dan

Feb 25 - Impromtu Assembly

2011-03-03T10:27:00.001-05:00

Headlines - February 25, 2011

Impromptu Assembly

I first heard the classical music in the mid morning. Initially, I thought it was a radio playing in a classroom but the sound was too rich and warm. I found the source in the community room. Four women, four instruments; two flutes, a harp, and an bassoon were playing a classical composition. I recognized our Spanish teacher, Cathy Herrera, playing one of the flutes. Cathy is an accomplished musician who plays with the Nittany Valley Symphony. She had asked Diane about using the community room during the day to rehearse for an upcoming performance and Diane thought it would be a wonderful idea.

Hearing the music, I thought it would nice to do some work while listening and headed out of the office with a small pile of reading. However, I was not alone. Both K/1 classrooms were already in the room listening intently to the soothing sounds and mimicking the harpist as she plucked the strings. I settled in on a bench to work. Every time I raised my head from reading, another class entered the room took seats on the floor and listened. In a very short time, the whole school had assembled in the community room for an impromptu assembly. The musicians, aware of the audience, gave background information about the music and composers. Their session went on for about 30 more minutes and classes filtered out on their own. I was left feeling refreshed from the music, grateful for the bit of culture and happy about our ability to have an impromptu assembly. Only at Friends.

Announcements

Science Fair - Our Annual Science Fair will be held on Monday, February 28th . Students are asked to come early to set up their displays. During the day, students will have the opportunity to tour the projects. Parents and friends are invited to see all the projects on display from 6-7 PM in the school’s community room. See Friday folders for more information.

Spanish Day – This Wednesday, March 2nd we will be having an all-school Spanish Day. At 2 pm, the whole school will gather the community room. Each class will provide a presentation of food, songs or skits for the rest of the school. Of course, most of the proceedings will be presented in Spanish. Parents are invited to see the show.

Conference Sign up – Parent/Teacher Conferences are next Thursday and Friday, March 3rd and 4th. Please make sure to call or stop in at the front desk to sign up for a conference time(s). Childcare will be available on both days and you can register at the same time.

Brown Bag Lunch Gathering - The Development Committee invites all interested parents to attend an informal lunch (March 15th) get-together to discuss development and marketing-related areas in need of support. Please check Friday folders for details or contact Pam Adams pjadams@yahoo.com
Focus on Strong Families Conference - This annual conference will take place this Saturday at the Mt. Nittany Middle School. There will be family-oriented sessions focusing on today’s challenges for families. More details and a link are on our website. (www.scfriends.org)

Open Houses – Our next Open House is for the K-8 program at the Friends School
Friday March 18th 9 -12 noon

Free Winter Play Day – On Saturday, March 19th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM Friends School is host a Saturday Play Day for children from 3-7 years old. This is a great opportunity to bring a friend to the school and enjoy a morning of play. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome. Please contact the school at (814) 237-8386.

Enjoy your weekend
Dan

Saturday Edition

2011-03-03T10:20:00.002-05:00

Headlines - February 18, 2010

Saturday Edition
It has been a busy week at school. It’s Saturday and I am just finding time to put Headlines together. However, I am not alone. As I write the rest of the administration is here. Diane is monitoring the Play Day and Mary and Lori are here, along with a cadre of parents, giving tours of the school. My awe of your children and what they are capable of is often matched by the efforts and dedication of our staff, teachers and parents to fulfill the mission of our school.
On Friday, Tr. Nick was attending a professional development workshop and I had the opportunity to be the substitute in my daughter’s classroom. What a great time! It was a ball to teach 4th graders math and science and. I was amazed at the attitude and helpfulness of all the students as they led me through their daily routines. I sure I did as much learning as I did teaching. I would encourage every parent to experience the school from inside the classroom. We are always looking for parents who wish to substitute or teach in the classroom. See Mary or me if you wish to have the opporuntiy.

Announcements

Open Houses – Our next Open House is for the Pre-K program at the Friends School House
Friday February 25th 12 noon – 3:00 pm
(Friends Meeting House Annex - site of Cooperative Playschool)

Seed Sale for Oxfam - Thanks to everyone who ordered seeds to support Tr. Lisa’s class fund raising efforts for Oxfam. Next Friday, February 25 is the last day to turn in orders. If you need more order forms, stop by Diane's desk or let Teacher Lisa know, and she will get them to you. Happy gardening!

Help Needed - You are invited to take part in an initiative to “Promote Safety, Pride, and Respect” in State College on February 26th (State Patty’s Day). Many members of the local community, including State College Friends Meeting, neighborhood associations, student organizations, churches, and local government, are planning to provide a sober presence downtown to create a positive atmosphere. Go to www.statecollegepa.us and click the link to “Community Outreach Volunteers” to register.

Focus on Strong Families Conference - This annual event will take place on Saturday February 26th at the Mt. Nittany Middle School. The conference provides family oriented sessions focusing on today’s greatest parenting challenges. More details and a link are on our website. (www.scfriends.org)

Free Winter Play Day – On Saturday, March 19th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM Friends School is hosting Saturday 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 of play. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome. Please contact the school at (814) 237-8386.
Enjoy your weekend
Dan

PJs and Honor Rolls

2011-01-31T16:56:00.001-05:00

Headlines - January 28, 2010

Pajama day was a hoot. I love seeing everyone come dressed for sleep. Surprisingly, the distractions of PJs and pizza lunch did not affect the academics today. I watched Tr. Dorothy’s K/1 classroom take in a science lesson on sound and vibrations while their stuffed animals sat attentively on the tables. I also observed the 5th graders roll up their pajama sleeves to complete their work and discuss proper word usage with Tr. Tim. Look for some pictures on the bulletin board.

This week I had the opportunity to visit the web page for the State College School District’s honor roll and I am happy to report what I found. Last year’s class placed four of our five graduates and long-time students (5+years) on the 9th grade honor role, with two receiving high honors. Our class of 08/09 has six of nine 10th grade students receiving honors, five of them earning high honors. The current junior class has four of five grads and alums on the high honor role. All eight Friends School graduates and alums in the senior class are on the honor role with seven receiving high honors – Amazing! Congratulations to all our alums for their hard work. I will try to find out more about our students in other school districts as well.

Announcements

Open Houses –The Friends School will be hosting Open Houses for our Pre-K and K-8th programs this winter. Here are the next scheduled events.

Pre-K program at the Friends School House - (Friends Meeting Houses Annex - site of Cooperative Playschool)

Wednesday, February 2nd 9:00 AM – noon

K-8 program at the Friends School

Saturday February, 19th 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Eat and Donate - Harrison’s “Dine In” to benefit State College Friends School takes place through February 6th. Join friends or take the family for a delicious meal and SCFS receives a percentage of the check. Please check our website for more info and spread the word. Gift Cards are also available.

Quaker Quest – A Quaker Quest session will be held this Sunday evening January 30th, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. The third session will address the topic: Quaker Faith in Action. Refreshments and child care will be provided. All are welcome to join in at the State College Friends Meetinghouse, 611 E. Prospect Ave., in State College, PA. For further information call Dana Mitra, at 814-234-8966

Summer Youth Fair – On Saturday, February 5th, Friends School ,along with over 25 other organizations will be at the Mt. Nittany Middle School from 10 AM to 2 PM to distribute information and answer questions about upcoming summer camp and class programs. It’s your opportunity to do one-stop information gathering for the summer.

Help Needed - You are invited to take part in an initiative to “Promote Safety, Pride, and Respect” in State College on February 26th (State Patty’s Day). Many members of the local community, including State College Friends Meeting, neighborhood associations, student organizations, churches, and local government, are planning to provide a sober presence downtown to create a positive atmosphere. Go to www.statecollegepa.us and click the link to “Community Outreach Volunteers” to register.

Focus on Strong Families Conference - This annual event will take place on Saturday February 26th at the Mt. Nittany Middle School. The conference provides family oriented sessions focusing on today’s greatest parenting challenges. More details and a link are on our website. (www.scfriends.org)

Seeds - Have you bought seeds for your garden yet? Tr. Lisa's class will be selling Fedco seeds this year as a fund raiser to benefit Oxfam International. Fedco is a certified organic seed processor (although they sell both organic and conventional seeds), with most of their seeds produced on farms using sustainable methods. By selling seeds, Tr. Lisa’s class is promoting local food production and supporting Oxfam, both worthy endeavors. Seed order forms will go home in Friday Folders on February 11th and we hope you will purchase some seeds from us this year.

Enjoy your weekend

Dan

PJs and Honor Rolls

2011-01-31T16:56:00.000-05:00

Parties, Harrison's, Quaker Quest and Summer Youth Fair

2011-01-24T08:26:00.001-05:00

Headlines - January 21, 2010

We are a party school. Not in the sense that you may first think of but in a more important way. Today there is an Author’s Party in the K/1 classroom. The middle school will be having their second sleep over at school tonight, and there were three birthday parties in classrooms this week. On Monday, we had and all-school party for Dr. King’s birthday with meeting for worship, singing, and cupcakes. While parties can be fun they have another purpose for us. Parties help to recognize milestones and build community among our students. As a Quaker school we are intentional in our efforts to build a warm and supportive community. Our teachers are deeply committed to developing community in the classroom (would you volunteer to chaperone a middle school sleep over?). We all believe that being part of a community is important to the well-being of every child. Over the years, I have also come to admire the efforts of our parent community to support the classroom communities outside of school. Your efforts to be inclusive (and discreet when it is not possible) are appreciated.

Congratulations to Noelle Boyd and Noah Belser. These alums were among the winners of the annual MLK Essay Writing contest this year. Noelle’s essay took first place and was reprinted in the CDT this week.

Announcements

Free Winter Play Days – This Saturday we will be hosting our first winter play day from 9:30 to 11:30 AM 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome.

Eat and Donate - Harrison’s “Dine In” to benefit State College Friends School takes place January 24th through February 6th. Join friends or take the family for a delicious meal and SCFS receives a percentage of the check. Please check our website for more info in the Friday folders and spread the word. (Gift Cards also available).

Quaker Quest – A Quaker Quest session will be held this Sunday evening January 23rd, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. The second session will address the topic: How do Quakers worship? Refreshments and child care will be provided. All are welcome to join in at the State College Friends Meetinghouse, 611 E. Prospect Street, in State College, PA. For further information call Dana Mitra, at 814-234-8966

Open Houses –The Friends School will be hosting Open Houses for our Pre-K and K-8th programs this winter. Here are the next scheduled events.

Pre-K program at the Friends Meeting House Annex (site of Cooperative Playschool, 611 E. Prospect Ave.)

Wednesday, February 2nd 9:00 AM – noon

K-8 program at the Friends School

Saturday February, 19th 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Summer Youth Fair – On Saturday, February 5th, Friends School along with over 25 other organizations will be on hand to distribute information and answer questions about upcoming summer camp and class programs. It’s your opportunity to do one-stop information gathering for the summer. Mt. Nittany Middle School - 10 AM – 2 PM.

Dan

Memories, Quaker Quest, Fit Trail Grant, and MLK Day Invitation

2011-01-17T07:50:00.002-05:00

Headlines - ________________________________ January 14, 2011

The wood benches we use in the community room are old; over 200 years old by some accounts. They were obtained by the school from the old Stormstown Meeting House/Grange building. They are heavy, sturdy, and hard, but not entirely uncomfortable. No matter how many times we paint them they still manage to project their age. The benches provide us with a link to the area’s Quaker history. For two hundred years, these benches have supported numerous worshipers in quiet reflection and remind us that there is always room for simplicity in our lives.

Many alumni remember their time at Meeting for Worship as a unique experience in their education. They miss it. Not only did it give them an opportunity to be with themselves-without any distractions. It was also a community building experience as we sang songs together and shared news from all the classes. Several alums now report that they sometimes use quite reflection to help them with hard decisions or difficult times. They also remember the benches.

Announcements

Parents - Look for a separate email for an invitation to a musical play study by Teacher Ann Clements. Also, please check Friday folders for important information about drop off and pick up.

Good News – The school is the recipient of an $8,400.00 grant to install Fit Trail Equipment around our walking path. This grant was provided by the Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge Grant initiative of the Highmark Foundation. The purpose of the initiative is to improve the health of children by providing them with the tools and practices needed to make informed decisions about living healthier lives. Look for installation of the stations in the spring.

Quaker Quest – The Friends Meeting invites you to join them for a series of public sessions, known as Quaker Quest. Quaker Quest is a dynamic process and demonstrates how the Quaker way is a spiritual path for our current times: simple, radical, and contemporary. Quaker Quest sessions will be held on Sunday evenings from 4:00-6:30 p.m. The first series of three sessions will be January 16th, 23rd, and 30th, 2011 and will repeat again in February. This Sunday’s session will address the topic ‘Do Quakers Believe in God?’ Refreshments and child care will be provided. All are welcome to join in for one or all of the sessions at the State College Friends Meetinghouse, 611 E. Prospect Street, in State College, PA. For further information call Dana Mitra, at 814-234-8966

Martin Luther King Day – School will be in session on MLK Day (January 17th). This year, we will be bring the entire school community to the meeting house for Meeting for Worship from 9:15 – 9:45 am. Later in the day (~2:15) we will again join together as a school for a birthday celebration. We will view some of Dr. King’s “I have a Dream” speech, share cards, and sing songs from the ‘King in Montgomery’ musical. Parents and friends are invited to both of these events. We hope to see you there.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays, Jan 22nd, February 19th and March 19th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM Friends School is hosting Saturday 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome. Please contact the school at (814) 237-8386.

Open Houses –The Friends School will be hosting Open Houses for our Pre-k and K-8th programs this winter. Upcoming Open Houses are scheduled for the following dates.

Pre-K program at the Friends Meeting House Annex (site of Cooperative Playschool)

Wednesday February 2nd 9:00 AM – noon

K-8 at the Friends School
Saturday February 19th 9:30AM – noon

Friday March 18th 10:00AM – 1:00PM

Please encourage friends and families who may be interested in Friends education to attend.

School Pictures – Pictures are posted and ready for your inspection and purchase. Sabine is working hard to finish classroom pictures and retakes. It has been suggested that friends could pool orders and save on shipping costs. Contact Diane at school if you need the password for your child’s class gallery.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Dan

Circle Time, Open Houses, Play Days, and MLK Day

2011-01-12T14:15:00.002-05:00

Headlines ______________________________ January 7, 2010

This week has been a week of readjustment for me and, I bet, all of you. After a relaxing and enjoyable break, I was confronted with piles of paperwork, emails and a large “to do” list. After working diligently for two days and making little progress, I decided to have a time out. I headed to Tr. Dorothy’s room to practice the ancient art of procrastination and enjoy a little circle time.

The children were gathered together on the carpet area and three previously chosen students shared their treasures on this day. We all got to enjoy Serena’s musical Hanna Montana greeting card, Lucy’s personalized shell collection and Nina’s sparkly set of jewels. It was a joy to share the enthusiasm of the presenters and the kindness of the others as they oohed and aahed and gave many positive comments. What a gift for those who have their time in the sun. I also know that the same students who were enjoying their moment will be more than eager to be supportive and to return the compliments to their classmates.

At the end of circle time I went back to work with a smile on my face knowing that I have one of the best jobs in the world.

Announcements

School Pictures – Pictures are posted and ready for your inspection and purchase. Sabine is working hard to finish classroom pictures and retakes. It has been suggested that friends could pool orders to save on shipping costs. If you need the password for your child’s class gallery, please contact Diane.

Friday Folders – There are several important pieces of information in Friday Folders this week including Science Fair information and sign-up, pizza and lunch order forms for January through April and more.

After School – A new schedule of After School activities is attached to this email. As always, we welcome ideas from you and your children for clubs or special offerings, as well as the involvement of parent volunteers and guest teachers.

Open Houses –The Friends School will be hosting Open Houses for our Pre-K and K-8th programs. Here are the schedules.

K – 8 program at the school

Next Friday, January 14th 10:00 – 1:00 PM
Saturday February 19 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Friday March 18th 10:00 – 1:00 PM

Pre-K program at the Friends Meeting House Annex (current site of Cooperative Playschool, 611 E. Prospect Ave.)

This Saturday, January 8th 9:00 AM - noon
Wednesday, February 2nd 9:00 AM – noon

Please encourage friends and families who may be interested in Friends education to attend.

Mary is also seeking a few volunteer tour guides for these open houses. Please contact the school if you wish to help.

Martin Luther King Day – School will be in session on MLK Day (January 17th). MLK Day is always a significant date for our school. Dr. King dedicated his life to working for equality and justice with love and non-violence, and this resonates strongly with our school’s Quaker testimonies and philosophy. This year, we will bring the entire school community to the meeting house for worship from 9:15 – 9:45 am. Later in the day, (~2:15) we will again join together as a school to view some of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and sing songs from the King in Montgomery musical. Parents and friends are invited to both of these events. We hope to see you there.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays, Jan 22nd, February 19th and March 19th, from 9:30 to 11:30 am, Friends School is hosting Saturday 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Dan

pics, open houses, and play

2011-01-06T09:59:00.001-05:00

Headlines - December 21, 2010

Thanks to all who attended the Holiday sing this year. It was a warm and fun time together. I cannot think of anything better than having a chance to give thanks, eat some cookies and sing as a community. I am especially proud of the way our students were willing to lead the songs for the rest of us. It was truly a Friends School event.

Announcements

School Pictures – Pictures are ready for most classrooms and they look great. We will be emailing your password in a separate email.

Open Houses – The Friends School will be hosting Open Houses for our Pre-k and K-8th programs. Here are the listings
K – 8 program at the school
Friday, January 14th 10:00 – 1:00 PM
Saturday February 19 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Friday March 18th 10:00 – 10 PM
Pre-K program at the Friends Meeting House Annex (site of Cooperative Playschool)
Saturday, January 8th 9:00 AM - noon
Wednesday, February 2nd 9:00 AM – noon
Please encourage friends and families who may be interested in Friends Education to attend.

Basketball Clinic – A reminder to our 5-8th grade students that basketball clinic will be starting in January. Anyone who is interested in participating needs to register.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays, Jan 22nd, February 19th and March 19th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM The Friends School is hosting Saturday 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome. Please contact the school at (814) 237-8386.

Have a wonderful Holiday and see you next year!
Dan

2010-12-13T12:08:00.001-05:00

Headlines - December 10, 2010

This week the 5th graders took their first of three trips down to the Middle School science classroom to learn some science and get acquainted with Tr. Bailey. However, parts of class did not seem like science. After meeting the animals and participating in an activity on observation skills, students were given a paper cube with sides that had different colors, names, and numbers. Their task was to figure out what color, name and numbers would be found on the bottom without lifting the cube. Based on the colors observed, it was relatively easy to determine the bottom would be purple. However, the pattern to the name and numbers was a little more obscure. Students worked intently developing, testing and rejecting competing solutions to the puzzle. Breakthroughs were made when the scientists realized they could share information and discuss possibilities. It is unclear whether any one group got the complete answer but the activity was a complete success. A student wrote later in a journal entry “It was hard but we had so much fun doing that”.

The students had just participated in inquiry-based learning. They were using their observation, communication and reasoning skills to problem solve. Inquiry-based learning actively involves students in the exploration of the content. Activities and assignments are designed for students to solve problems, increasing student motivation. Inquiry activities in the classroom actively involve students in the learning process and give them the opportunity to learn the content and concepts by exploring questions and developing solutions. Inquiry-based learning gives students more opportunity to reflect on their own learning, and become better critical thinkers.

While spending time figuring out what the bottom of a cube looks like may not be essential, the mental gymnastics that were involved in the exercise develop each student’s skills for later assignments. I can’t wait to hear what Bailey has in store for them next week.

In the News:
Students from Teacher Nick’s class had an opportunity today to talk with members of the media who visited the school to learn more about the 4th Grade Pennies for Peace service project. A journalist from the Centre County Gazette interviewed the students about their work and the different subject areas used in the project. Channel 6 (WJAC – Centre County Report) captured some footage and spoke with the students as well. It is expected this will air on the 5:00 and/ or 6:00 news. The students handled themselves with maturity and ease as they very clearly articulated details about their work. Both journalists commented on their maturity and skill. Unfortunately, none of the banks we invited attended this morning’s media event as it sometimes goes, so teacher Dan and I who both had empty pockets to begin with, are picking through our desk drawers for some spare change!

Announcements

Peace Choir Sings – The Peace Choir still has a few more dates lined up this season. We hope that everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy a performance this year.

Toys for Tots Ramada Inn Saturday, Dec.11 8:10-9:45 pm

School Holiday Sing School Tuesday, Dec. 21 1:45 pm

School Pictures – We took pictures of the K/1, 4th and 5th grade classrooms this week. The 2/3 are slated for Tuesday, the middle school is Wednesday and make ups are on Friday.

Toys for Tots Gift Wrapping – The after school program will be taking all interested 4th – 8th grade student volunteers to help wrap presents for Toys for Tots on Tuesday the 14th. Teachers Bailey, Nick and Diane will drive participating students over to the Penn Stater at about 3:30 and wrap until about 5:00 pm, then return students to the school to be picked up. Please look for signup sheet in today’s Friday folder.

Pizza Friday- Pizza is on the menu for next Friday the 17th. If you have not already ordered for your child and would like to, please contact Diane.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays, Jan 22nd, February 19th and March 19th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM The Friends School is hosting Saturday 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome. Please contact the school at (814) 237-8386.

Have a great weekend

Dan

2010-11-18T11:48:00.000-05:00

HEADLINES………………….November 12, 2010

Dear Friends School Parents,

Dan’s off in DC for the weekend, so Lori and I are the substitute Headlines writers this week.

It was good to see so many of you over the course of our two parent-teacher conference days. I know that the teachers found their time with you to be of great value, and I trust that you felt the same.

I’d like to draw your attention to an upcoming event that you won’t want to miss. Friends School’s annual Thanksgiving observance---Thankful Tuesday---will be held on November 23. This event dates back to 1980, our very first year, and is one of the school’s most cherished traditions. Although the details have changed and evolved over the years, the Friends School community has always gathered on the day before Thanksgiving vacation to express our gratitude for our children, for our teachers, and for one another. We hope that each of you will join us this year and help us to extend and strengthen this important tradition.

On November 23 at 11:15, families are invited to bring along a brown bag lunch and join their children for lunch in the classrooms. Then, at 12 noon, we’ll all gather in the Community Room for brief, but very entertaining, presentations by each class, K-8. We’ll finish up with some group singing and some outdoor recess time if the weather allows. The festivities should end by about 1:00 and then we’ll continue with our regular classroom activities, dismissing at 3:20 as usual. The After School Program will be available that day, as well. However, if you have Thanksgiving travel plans and would like to get an early start, you’re welcome to take your child home with you at 1:00. Just be sure, please, to let your teacher know.

If you’ll have family or friends visiting for Thanksgiving, please bring them along for Thankful Tuesday. We expect a packed house for our class presentations, but there’s always room for one more.

SPICES - Thanks to all for a successful event.

Our SPICES of Life Gala held at the Atherton last Sunday was a success on several levels. The early evening social time for parents, grandparents and friends was well-received as recreation in its truest sense; a time to change from work wardrobe and gardening gloves into special occasion clothes, and to enjoy simple yet beautifully presented sweets and savories without needing to feed hungry little mouths. The music played by Andy Tolins and Tom Jordan was an acoustic feast! As the evening progressed, so did the urge to do some foot tapping and moving, just on the edge of dancing (we may want to consider this for another time). The backdrop of the Atherton Hotel, made even more intimate and special by the SPICES decorating committee, made the selection of donated goods and services look like the window displays of Tiffany’s at Rockefeller Center. New families were warmly welcomed, old friends talked of soccer, jewelry making and family plans for the holidays. Individuals invited from businesses and organizations in our community had an opportunity to learn more about Friends School and to learn how they might become more involved with the school in a number of ways.

Between ticket sales, sponsorships, cash donations and silent auction proceeds the event raised approximately $6000 for the Scholarship Fund. An impressive amount considering that the 3rd Annual SPICES celebration was just held in March. The decision to officially move the yearly event to fall and to host a “second” 3rd Annual SPICES event -- if that’s possible – was an experiment of sorts and it worked. It worked because of the generosity and help of families, businesses and community members who seek to live with and enjoy SPICES in life – the Quaker testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship. We have much to celebrate!

Enjoy photos of the event taken by Sabine Carey (Mattie’s mom) using the following link.

http://freerangingphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Spices-Gala-2010/14566338_pMkdc#1082716189_E7jHo

Reminders:

Sync-a-Palooza: Several songs have been submitted, teachers and kids have been rehearsing, costumes have been considered, and everyone is excited for this Friday afternoon, November 15. We hope many of you will be able to join us at 4:00 for what is certain to be an entertaining afternoon, as well as an opportunity to say a final goodbye to Abby before she makes her move to Massachusetts. If you are performing, be sure to bring in your music next week. and remember, contributions of refreshments will be welcomed.

Thanksgiving Vacation: No school on November 24, 25, and 26. We’ll be back in session on Monday, November 29.

Have a terrific weekend!~

Mary Ziegler

2010-11-04T12:16:00.001-04:00

Headless lines - October 28, 2010
Halloween Last week I wrote about silence nothing could be further from reality this week. The spirit of Halloween spirit has taken its stranglehold on our school again this year. Thanks to many old and new parent volunteers for making this year’s Halloween celebration highly scary and enjoyable.

On Wednesday, we were treated to an unexpected visit from Baba Yaga. She was her usual disgusting self, drinking toilet water, dancing on tables, and encouraging children to scream. Personally, I am grateful for Teacher Nick as he became the “new boyfiend” for Baba Yaga (she prefers taller men).

Friday, the students arrived to a decorated lobby complete with body parts, cauldrons, and spooky sounds. After Meeting for Worship, Baba Zaa Zaa appeared to wreak her own brand of havoc on your children. Screaming and running in the hallway became the order of the morning as the students enjoyed their visits with the stooped, potato nosed, witch.

After lunch, the students got into their costumes and formed a parade of ghosts, ghouls, witches, villains and goblins. We went to Foxdale Village and showed the residents our scariest sides. Despite our best efforts to scare the residents, we received a warm and loving welcome at Foxdale. Go figure. Once the parade was completed, every classroom held a party with treats and fun supplied by teachers and parents.
Halloween is one of the most memorable traditions we have at Friends. It is a special time and continues only through the efforts of our parents and the school community. I would like to thank all the volunteers who work each year to make this day a wonderful adventure for our children. I have the benefit of seeing them throughout the day and if you could see the expressions on their faces, you would be as convinced as I am that this day adds to the magic that is Friends School. Thank you.

Announcements

SPICE –SPICES is next week. We will be at the Atherton Hotel on Sunday November, 7th from 4 -7 pm. This is a fun early evening for parents to meet, share conversation, enjoy some music, participate in a wonderful silent action and support the school. Free childcare will be provided at the School. Please make plans to come.

Love Reading- Pat and Kathleen Shannon, professors of Language and Literacy, will be providing a workshop entitled Developing Lifelong Readers on Tuesday, November 9th at 7:00 pm. This event is for any adult who wants to instill good reading habits in children of all ages. The workshop will take place in the Community Room and is open to the public. Childcare will be provided. We have attached the flyer to this email; please post it at your workplace.

Bring a Friend – We will be hosting our first Bring a Friend to School Day next Friday, November 5th. Look for details in your child’s Friday Folder. The flyer is also attached here.

Friday Lunches – Friday Lunches are back! Yea! Look for the flyer in this week’s Friday Folder or download the attachment.

Have a wonderful weekend.

A Vibrant Silence and SPICES

2010-10-24T16:06:00.002-04:00

Headlines - October 22, 2010A vibrant silence
I often talk about the exciting things that happen at Friends School, but this week I want to share the quiet. I had the opportunity to visit several classrooms this week and I was struck by the amount of silence that does occur in this school. It is not the silence of students slipping into a stupor but the productive silence that often accompanies people who are focused on the task at hand.

In Teacher Kelly’s room there is sustained independent reading almost every day. I spent twenty minutes there watching Kelly, Assistant Teacher Elli, and teacher intern Karen float around offering help and encouragement to the students who were spread about the room reading. During math, Teacher Sunna’s group was taking a math test (yes, we do test in Friends) and the silence from the group was complete and sustained despite a rather energetic lesson being held on the other side of the room with Tr. Elli.

The following day, I traveled down to the middle school to catch part of Teacher Christy’s Language Arts Class. Again the quiet was palatable. Students were on computers and at their desks, writing. Some were writing speeches, others were writing poems and still others were composing informative pieces. These were all part of the middle school’s writing curriculum. In my twenty minutes I heard hardly a word, just the sound of keys tapping and pencils being pushed across the page.

Later that day, I passed some of Teacher Tim’s students quietly reading on the hallway couches as I entered Teacher Nick’s classroom. The room felt warm, smelled of herbs, and soft music could be heard. I found the students writing in their journals while enjoying cups of tea. They are currently reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Nick is using real experiences to reinforce the concepts in the book. In any case, it made for an engaging and productive writing time.

Throughout the week, I was able to observe our school at its quiet best. The importance of reading and writing throughout the school is evident through the many hours that are devoted to these activities and by the focus of the students. Therefore, it came as only a mild surprise to me that a larger school library was one of the top priorities identified by the 5-8th grade students during their school visioning session yesterday afternoon. Silence can be golden, but it also can be vibrant.

Announcements
S.P.I.C.E.S of Life Gala at the Atherton Hotel on Sunday, November, 7th from 4 -7 pm. This is an early evening social for parents and community members to meet over sumptuous local food and beverage features and to enjoy music and silent auction offerings. It is a celebration of the S.P.I.C.E.S. in our community – Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community and Stewardship. If have never attended this signature event, you don’t know what you’re missing! (FREE childcare will be offered this year.) Families who have attended in the past can help our new families to feel involved by encouraging them to attend and introducing them to others in the community.

Bring a Friend to School Day – Mark your calendars for Friday, November 5th. The SCASD is closed and we will use this day as an opportunity for your child to invite a friend to school for the day and to have other families become familiar with what the Friends School has to offer. Guests need to be registered. Please call the school for more information.

Love Reading? – Penn State education faculty members Pat and Kathleen Shannon, will present a workshop entitled Developing Lifelong Readers on Tuesday, November 9th at 7:00 pm. This event is for any adult who wants to instill good reading habits in children of all ages. The workshop will take place in the Community Room and is open to all. Invite a friend!

Conference Days – Parent Teacher Conference Days are on Thursday and Friday, November 11 and 12th. Please call the school to arrange an appointment with your child’s teacher.

A good week of school, a sad week for dogs

2010-10-05T12:58:00.002-04:00

Headlines - October 1, 2010

This has been a fabulous Friday. The K/1 classrooms are making all sorts of treats with the apples they harvested on their field trip to Tait Farms on Tuesday. This morning, the students and teachers were busy coring, peeling and cooking all those apples into some delicious pies and fruit chews. Teacher Nick has become Mrs. Jewels the teacher and the rest of the class has taken on the personas of various characters in the book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Truly Wacky. And finally, the all-school Field Day was a big hit. Thanks to all the middle school students who worked this week to set up and run the activities for the rest of the school.

This Monday when I woke up my little buddy, Duke the dachshund, was sleeping at my feet. His breathing was steady but labored. I woke him from his slumber and took him outside. He did his business and with a flash of youth, skittered back up the steps and into the house for breakfast, just part of the morning routine. Shortly afterwards, I found him on the couch gasping for breath. Apparently, the rush to the house and vigorous eating was all he could stand. Duke left us soon afterward.
That evening, we buried him in our backyard and held a simple ceremony of thanks.

Duke was over ten years old and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure last May. He had been struggling lately and spent Saturday day and night at the vet. This was stressful for all and we were glad that he was well enough to come home on Sunday morning. We all spent a restful day at home. Having that last Sunday at home to enjoy each other’s company for one more day turned out to be the best gift we could have hoped for. Somewhere there is a lesson in this and I’m not sure how to express it exactly but I feel it may have to do with taking the time for the simple enjoyment of others. These are the memories that last. I will remember the Dukester kindly.

Teacher Nick’s dog continued his exciting and heartbreaking ways this week. On Monday, he managed to push his way out of the classroom and set us all off on a wild and wooly search. Despite being hobbled by a serious leg injury, Tito easily eluded us for places unknown. The class came together quickly to brainstorm ideas to find Tito. Before the end of the day, flyers were made and hung, local vets were notified, and many students, parents and bus drivers were enlisted in the search. While we are still looking for Tito, I am very proud of the 4th grade students’ resourcefulness and compassion.

Announcements

Potluck Tonight – Our all-school potluck is tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the community room. Potlucks are a wonderful way for our community to come together in a relaxed and informal manner. Bring the whole family, a dish to share and your own place settings. Teacher Abby (afterschool) and
Rebecca (yoga) will be on hand to lead us in some group fun and stretching. We hope you will join us.

Kids Day Downtown - Look for our booth at the Downtown State College Kids Day Festival in Central Parklet on Saturday October 2nd. Tr. Lori and our middle school students will be on hand with crafts and activities for kids to enjoy. The festival includes food and other activities and runs from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. See the attachment for more information.

In-Service Day – Friday, October 15th is an in-service day for our teachers and there will be no school that day. The school will offer childcare and after-school programs on that day. Parents needing childcare should make arrangements at the front desk.

S.P.I.C.E.S – Mark your calendars for our annual Spices Event. Sunday November, 7th from 4-7 PM. This is a fun early evening for parents to meet, share conversation and good times. Please make plans to come.

Soccer – Our school soccer clinics are going strong. They are now open to students from 3rd grade and up. Come on out and have fun while learning skills and rules. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 4:45 PM.

Peaceful Singing

2010-09-28T16:16:00.002-04:00

Headlines - September 24, 2010

Thanks to all the parents who attended Back to School Night. We had a large turnout this year and it was great to see the interest and enthusiasm of both our new and returning parents. Parents in Teacher Kelly’s class met their flat children and received an assignment. Parents in Teacher Nick’s classroom heard the sad saga of his dog, Tito, and learned how it has brought out the best in his students as they take turns caring for Tito; making him comfortable and reading him to sleep each morning (the sedatives help). Once again, thanks to all of you for taking such a strong interest in your children’s education. It is a hallmark of a quality school.

Tuesday was the International Day of Peace. At our school, we participated in the Pinwheels for Peace celebration. In art class, many students built and decorated pinwheels of various sizes and colors. Their creations were then displayed at the front entrance to the school along with a large peace sign to symbolize our school’s peace testimony. Please see the display on the lobby bulletin board.

Today, I was on desk duty while the school was in Meeting for Worship. I was using the quiet time to catch up on some email when I heard it. The sound of children singing was flowing from the Community Room. Neither too loud nor too soft, it was a sweet and gentle. I could hear all the students and teachers singing and it struck me how all the different individual voices could blend together to form a sound that was so soothing to the ears. Maybe we all should sing together more often.

Announcements

Potlucks – The all-school potluck is scheduled for Friday, October 1st from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Potlucks are a wonderful way for our community to come together in a relaxed and informal manner. Everyone is invited to participate. Dinner will begin at 6 pm. Please bring a dish to share and place settings for your family. We are hoping to have some organized activities for families after dinner. As always, we will need a few families to help with setup and several families to help with clean up. Parents are also needed as playground monitors on both sides of the buildings. We hope you can sort yourselves out and have these areas covered.

Parent Coffee – A parent coffee is scheduled for this Thursday, September, 30th in the Library. This is a way for parents to ask questions and receive more information about the school, its programs and resources in an informal atmosphere. Please make plans to join us. Opening topic for discussion is Quaker Education Practices.

Kids Day - Look for our booth at the Downtown State College Kids Day Festival in Central Parklet on Saturday October 2nd. Tr. Lori and our middle school students will be on hand with crafts and activities for kids to enjoy. The festival includes food and other activities and runs from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. See http://www.downtownstatecollege.com/events/9 for more information.

In-Service Day – Friday, October 15th is an in-service day for our teachers and there will be no school that day. The school will offer childcare and after-school programs on that day. Parents needing childcare should contact the school by phone or email to make arrangements.

Please have a wonderful weekend and sing a song.

Dan

2010-09-22T21:03:00.001-04:00

Headlines - September 2, 2010
What a week! The first days of school have been going so smoothly. It is a treat to see the older students in the classrooms helping our new students become acclimated, and to hear about the older students on Bus 1 assisting new kindergarten students to board the bus and make it safely into school. It is always heartwarming when you witness the values we share come together in our children.
At school, our week started on Monday with our staff in-service days. For two-and-one-half days we worked together on coordinating school practices, discussing ways to foster Quaker values and educational practices, and making community service meaningful. We also started a staff review of our school’s curriculum. This year, through a process of sharing classroom practices, standards and expectations, our staff will update our school’s writing curriculum.
Yesterday I heard a “This I Believe” essay from former Friends School student Dizzy Farbanish entitled I Believe in Learning from the Past. Dizzy wrote a wonderful piece citing how past experiences have shaped him and how he has grown from them. In that essay, he mentions a teacher who made a big impression on him. That teacher was our own Tr. Tim Austin. What a great thing for a teacher to be recognized in the good works of a former student. You can read (or hear) the rest of the essay at: http://wpsu.org/radio/single_entry/LL-3096/thisibelieve#
Announcements
Potlucks – Two potlucks are scheduled this fall. A potluck for the K/1 classes will be held on Friday, September 10th from 5:30 to 7 pm. 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, October 1st 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. We hope you will join us.
Back to School Night – Our annual Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 23. Please save the date 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. Look for more information about this event in the coming weeks.
Please have a wonderful and safe Labor Day Weekend
Dan

Headlines, June 1, 2010

2010-06-02T09:23:00.001-04:00

Pictures Please...

As many of you know, the camping trip featured wonderful weather, happy children, campfires, and lots of talent. Thanks to all the teachers and parents who helped to make this annual excursion a success.

With the camping trip and the gorgeous weekend, it is not hard to imagine that summer is right around the corner.

Announcements

Graduation –Our graduation ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am on Thursday. Over the past several weeks, our graduates have been working on decorating their chairs, practicing their songs and honing their speeches. This production will feature remarks by Mary and the teachers, singing by our school’s Peace Choir and our graduates’ speeches. It is always a very uplifting event and I encourage everyone to come and see for yourselves.

Dismissal on Thursday is at 12:00 noon.

Pictures, Please! – Parents who have taken pictures during field trips, the camping trip, other school events or in the classroom are asked to share your best ones with the school. Please drop them off via a disc or thumb drive and we will put them our storage drive. Your pictures will help us to develop an end- of- year DVD for the school.

Yard Sale Reminder – Don’t forget, our Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, June 12. You are welcome to start dropping items off any time after 1:00pm this Thursday. We are still looking for helpers next week for sorting and pricing and of course to help out on the day of the sale. Also, keep an eye on your email for posters that you can distribute, and be sure to tell your friends, neighbors and family about the sale.

Happy Last Week!

Dan

Headlines, May 14, 2010

2010-05-14T17:13:00.001-04:00

Cook-Out, Class Plays, Camping and More!

Today our K/1 students are spending the day at Bald Eagle State Park. The 2^nd and 3^rd graders are at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. And, our 7^th and 8^th grade kids won’t return from New Orleans until tomorrow evening. The 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders who remain here have taken advantage of the day and all the empty space. They joined forces for a wonderfully wild Capture the Flag game at recess, using every inch of the building and grounds. But I think we all look forward to Monday when we’ll have everyone back in one place…until Tuesday when the 4^th graders leave for DC. ‘Tis the season, I suppose.

REMINDERS:

Cook-Out: We’ll be providing lunch for the kids on Monday, so pack a snack as usual, but there’s no need to send lunch. We’ll be doing an all-school cook-out, rain or shine. (We’ll have a cook-in if necessary.)

Class Plays: We have four class plays scheduled for next week, and you’re invited to any or all:

Monday, May 17 Teacher Tim’s 4^th Grade Class

Wednesday, May 19 Teacher Kelly’s 2^nd/3^rd Grade Class

Thursday, May 20 Teacher Lisa’s K/1 Class

Friday, May 21 Upper School

All performances begin at 1:00 p.m. and will take place in the Community Room.

Graduation: All parents are invited to attend our graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. Please come and help us send off this special group of graduates with the best wishes of their entire school community. They would appreciate your presence.

Camping Trip: Your camping trip letter is probably in your mailbox today, or it will be there tomorrow. It would be great if you’d take the time to read it this weekend and then get your forms back to us next week. I apologize for the short turn-around time, but Camp Blue Diamond is requesting our head count early this year.

After School Activities: Please remember that MOST of the After School activities ended this week. There will still be one more cooking class on Friday, May 21 due to the cancellation during Fun Fair week, and there is one final Rocket Club session on Monday, May 17.

The weekend weather looks perfect. Enjoy yourselves!

Mary

Headlines, May 7, 2010

2010-05-10T10:45:00.002-04:00

Bravado, New Orleans and Summer Cleaning Crew

Let’s talk about confidence at Friends School. I am always pleased and amazed about the way many of our students handle their interactions with adults and their peers. For example, this morning first grade student, Noah Gehman, sauntered up to Mary and me at the front desk and, without a hint of shyness, announced in a very casual tone, “I got a check for you guys” and handed over an envelope. Yesterday in the library, I watched many of our 2nd and 3^rd grade students recite poems they’d written themselves to their classmates, teachers and parents. They all spoke clearly and with a certain amount of bravado that let you know they were enjoying the experience. Later in the day, the middle school students and I spoke openly about the day’s physical education class and, using Quaker principles, came up with activities that could be enjoyed by all. I believe that it is the school’s emphasis on listening to all voices that helps our students to speak their minds.

The 7/8 class leaves tomorrow morning on our week-long service trip to New Orleans. While current plans are to help with the revitalization of the city, we are prepared to help wherever we can. Look for posts and pictures from the trip next week.

Reminders

Camping Trip – The annual all-school camping trip is scheduled for May 27 and 28^. Please look for the letter from Mary with all the details next week.

May School Lunches – Due to the large number of field trips that are occurring on Fridays in May, we will have to do some juggling of the school lunch schedule. Please consult your teacher’s classroom newsletter for details.

Positions Available

As Beth completes her time as the school’s Director of Development, we have begun the search for her replacement. I have attached the job description to this email. It is a demanding and rewarding position. Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and three references to me at the school

We are also seeking help for the school’s annual summer cleaning crew. There is much to do and these positions are perfect for those who enjoy cleaning, gardening, painting and minor repairs. Please contact Diane with your interest. Positions run June through August.

Please enjoy the weekend

Dan

Headlines, April 30, 2010

2010-04-30T16:33:00.001-04:00

Fun Fair, Camping, Graduation and Special 4th graders!

Mary and I were in the 4^th grade classroom this morning observing a teaching candidate and I was proud of the way our students welcomed him into the class and school. They wore name tags and were respectful of the new teacher. During the lesson, the students were eager to share and became very interested in the activities that were presented. In the end, we all learned a great deal. Hats off to the 4^th grade students for their kindness.

Reminders

First things first. It ‘s time for the Fun Fair! - Need we say more? Wonderful weather is on tap and so are sprinklers for the kids. Please come out and enjoy yourself and our special Friends community tomorrow, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thanks to all of you who have helped already in so many ways.

Camping Trip – The annual all-school camping trip is scheduled for May 27 and 28^. Please look for the letter from Mary with all the details soon.

Graduation – We’ll be graduating a very special 8^th grade class this year and we invite all of you to join us as we say good-bye. Graduation ceremonies will be held on Thursday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. All Friends School students will attend and all parents are encouraged to come, too.

See you at the Fun Fair!

Dan

Headlines, April 23, 2010

2010-04-24T09:14:00.002-04:00

Gracious Students and Some Goodbyes

I was a little under the weather this week and found myself at home for a few days. However, in my brief time at school I was able to witness some wonderful happenings. This morning, as I was making coffee in the kitchen, I saw Christopher Fletcher and Jane Biddle open the door and greet everyone as they entered the building. At the end of the day, I saw Kaliey, Maya, Beebs, and other older students intently sharing books with their reading buddies. Open doors and the sound of a whole school reading is good for what ails you.

When I first became head of school, one of the most pressing issues was the development office. We were six months without a development director and the cracks were beginning to show. Beth Giles, who was a member of the board and development committee, took on the additional role of helping with the search. Through our numerous conversations on the position and its responsibilities, it became obvious to me that we did not have to look too far for our new director. We both saw areas where she could make a difference. And she has made a wonderful difference. We are very grateful for her efforts to bring our development focus back to life. However, she never intended to make a long-term commitment and after having focused her work on specific areas in the last year and a half, she now feels it is a good time for the development office to be turned over to someone new while she returns to her former area of expertise in information systems. Fortunately, Beth will be here through the school year and will remain a local advisor and supporter of Friends education. When you see her, please take a moment to say thank you for all of her hard work.

We also say goodbye today to Nicole and Skye, two PSU students who did their classroom placement in Teachers Dorothy’s and Teacher Tim’s classrooms. It was a great experience for them and for our students. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Reminders

Fun Fair – Our annual Fun Fair is almost here. Now is the time to be visualizing warm sunny weather. Please contact Diane at the front desk to sign up. Fun Fair is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Field Trips – Several field trips are scheduled during the remaining weeks of school. Almost every class has a destination this month. The younger grades will be more local while the 5/6 class is scheduled for a trip to Ithaca for science and nature next week. During the week of May 9^th, our 7^th and 8^th graders will be on a service trip to New Orleans. Look for email updates from them during their adventure.

Camping Trip – The annual all-school camping trip is scheduled for May 27 and 28^. Please look for the letter from Mary with all the details soon.

May School Lunches – Due to the large number of field trips that are occurring on Fridays in April and May, we will have to do some juggling of the school lunch schedule. Please consult your teacher’s classroom newsletter for details.

Please enjoy your weekend

Dan

Headlines, April 16, 2010

2010-04-20T17:35:00.002-04:00

Weights, FUN FAIR, and Broadway!

This past week, I had the pleasure of observing the third grade math class with Teachers Kelly and Rebecca. The students are studying measurement and today they were getting familiar with units of weight. An introductory problem was written on the board and the teachers used it to engage the students in a discussion about which units of weight they were familiar with. Terms like ton, pound, ounces, grams and stones were brought up and the students shared their ideas on when those units might be used. Later they split into small groups of 5 – 7 students and Kelly and Rebecca led each group through a lesson in their Everyday Math book. Using small groups ensured that every student participated in the discussion. I especially like the amount of discussion that the groups engaged in as they came to a good understanding of solving the day’s problems dealing with weight.

The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees was held last Tuesday and over 20 parents attended. After introductions and questions, we all got right to work. Parents were divided into groups and asked to think about the school and its future. We received many helpful comments and suggestions regarding our educational program, staffing, school culture, and community relations. The input supplied by our parents will be used by the Board of Trustees and administration when we take on strategic planning in the coming school year. Thanks to all the parents who attended for your work and insights. For those of you who still wish to participate, we will schedule another session early next year.

Reminders

Open House – Our next Open House is this Friday, April 23^rd from 9:30 to 12 noon. Please help spread the word. If you can volunteer some time as a tour guide, let Mary know.

Fun Fair – Our annual Fun Fair is almost here. Now is the time to be visualizing warm sunny weather. There are still some volunteer time slots that need to be filled, so please contact Diane at the school to sign up. Silent Auction items can be dropped of at the front desk any time now, and don’t forget to start thinking about your contribution to the Bake Sale! The Fun Fair is scheduled for Saturday May 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Broadway at Friends – As many of you are aware, May is theater month at Friends. Here is a listing of performances for May. All show times are at 1 P.M.

Monday, May 10 Tr. Rebecca’s 2/3

Wednesday, May 12 Tr. Dorothy’s K/1

Monday, May 17 Tr. Tim’s 4^th grade

Wednesday, May 19 Tr. Kelly’s 2/3

Thursday, May 20 Tr. Lisa’s K/1

Friday, May 21 Tr. Christy and Bailey’s Upper School

Enjoy the blooms at the school.

Dan

Headlines, April 9, 2010

2010-04-20T13:28:00.001-04:00

What a week! For some reason, spring is always accompanied by an increase in activity at school and this year is no different. We started this week with Grandparents, Friends, and Family Day and ended with the upper school’s creative costume elective class providing a show in the hallways. In between those events were several class field trips, a hot lunch, and our annual Curriculum Night. Thanks to everyone who made this week a special one at the school.

We send special thanks this week to everyone who helped us with a most successful Grandparents, Friends, and Family day. Thanks to the Farahani family for the donation of our Subway lunch, to the parents who helped with set-up and clean-up, to the upper school students who folded and unfolded every table and chair that we own, and to those of you who donated your spring flowers for our table arrangements. We had a wonderful day and we loved hosting such gracious visitors.

Two events that involve some of our staff are on the horizon. Tr. Lisa’s husband, Chris, is performing in Hair this weekend at Schwab Auditorium and Lu Ann Shaffer, our K-4 music instructor, will be directing the Nittany Valley Children’s Choir in a performance on Monday, April 12^th, at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center at 7:30 p.m.

Reminders

Please come to the Annual Meeting – The Board of Directors will be hosting its annual meeting on Tuesday, April 13^th at 7pm. This year’s meeting will focus on developing a vision and strategic plan for the school. Input from the school community is vital to this process and all are encouraged to attend. There will also be an opportunity to meet the board and ask questions about the state of the school. Child care will be available at no charge. Please let us know if your children will be attending.

Open House – Our next Open House is Friday, April 23^rd from 9:30 to 12 noon. Please help spread the word. We’ll also be looking for a few volunteers to help with the tours.

Fun Fair – Our annual Fun Fair is approaching quickly! Now is the time to be visualizing warm, sunny weather. Please contact Diane to sign up for your volunteer slot. We can find a job just for you, one that suits both your talents and your schedule. The Fun Fair is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s a great day for kids and families, but we need the help of all parents to make it work. If you will be unavailable on the day of the fair, check in with Diane, as there are several pre-fair jobs available as well! Please be part of this year’s fun!

Inservice Day and Child Care – Friday, April is an inservice day for our teachers. There is no school that day, but there will be child care available from 8am to 5:30pm. Please let us know by Wednesday, April 14 if you would like your child to participate in child care for all or part of the day.

Diane would like to attend part of the inservice training that day, and is looking for a volunteer to answer phones from 9am to noon. If needed, child care would be available at no charge.

“Dine In” at Harrisons – Don’t forget about this delicious fundraiser! “Dine In” with Friends School at Harrison’s Wine Grill during the weeks of April 5-17. Bring along friends and family, and enjoy a meal that benefits our school. Harrison’s Wine Grill, which is owned by former school parents and long time Friends School supporters Harrison Schailey and Kit Henshaw, will donate 20% of your check before taxes and tip back to the school. There is no limit to the number of times you can go or the number of people who can join you! Simply mention the Friends School, and you can enjoy your meal even more knowing that you are also helping our school!

May School Lunches – Due to the large number of field trips that are scheduled for Fridays in April and May, we will have to do some juggling of the school lunch schedule. Please check our web site or consult your teacher’s classroom newsletter for details.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend

Dan

Headlines, April 2, 2010

2010-04-09T10:59:00.001-04:00

I was just informed that the upper school used book sale raised $647.00 for the earthquake victims in Haiti. Thank you to all who donated books and to the students for working on this important fundraiser. Special thanks to Teachers Christy and Bailey for their extra efforts this past weekend. This week, the 7/8 grade class also received airline tickets for their service trip to New Orleans. The students are currently learning about Hurricane Katrina and the relief efforts that are still needed. They are psyched to go and help.

What fun it was this week to watch our school take advantage of the warm and sunny weather. There have been lots of happy faces. It may be OK to take your snow boots and snowsuits home now.

Reminders

Grandparents, Friends, and Family Day – Our annual Grandparents, Friends, & Family Day is this Monday, April 5^th. All grandparents and special friends of students are invited to visit our classrooms that morning and then join us for lunch in the Community Room at noon. This is a great way to visit the school and learn about what goes on in the classrooms. It is a special day for everyone. Friends and family are welcome to arrive anytime after 9:00 a.m. and to stay for lunch with their special student. Our guests’ lunch will be provided by Subway, courtesy of the Farahani family. Students should bring their normal packed lunches on Monday.

Dine-In at Harrison’s – If you enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Harrison’s, anytime from April 5-April 17, 20% of your check (before taxes and gratuity) will benefit Friends School. There’s no limit to the number of times you can participate. All you have to do is mention the Friends School Dine-In when it’s time to pay your bill. Harrison’s is located in the Hilton Garden Inn at 1221 E. College Ave. It’s owned by Kit Henshaw and Harrison Schailey, former school parents and long-time supporters. Thanks to them for making this possible. See you at Harrison’s!

Curriculum Night –Curriculum Night is next Thursday, April 8^th from 7 to 8 p.m. This year we will be focusing on our social studies/theme curriculum. Teachers have planned many fun activities and all families are invited to visit as many classrooms as they wish during the evening. This is a great way to learn about the social studies/theme curriculum at Friends. Please come. This is a family event and students are encouraged to attend along with their parents.

Annual Meeting – The Board of Directors will be hosting the annual meeting for the school on Tuesday, April 13^th at 7pm. This is your chance to meet the board and ask questions about the state of the school. This year’s meeting will focus on developing a vision and strategic plan for the school. Input from the community is vital to this process and all are invited to attend and participate.

Open House– Our next Open House is Friday, April 23^rd from 9:30 to 12 noon. Please help spread the word.

Food Bank – We would love to make one more delivery to the Food Bank this year. You can see their most current list of needed items at http://www.statecollegefoodbank.org/needs_list.html. Our bright green Food Bank collection bin is still located in the lobby of the school, awaiting a new round of donations!

Please enjoy the warm weather and Let’s Goooooooo Mountaineers!

Dan

Headlines, March 31, 2010

2010-04-09T10:56:00.000-04:00

I wish to inform the community that our beloved librarian and assistant teacher, Laura Kemper, has decided to retire after this year. For over eight years, we have enjoyed her company and have been the beneficiaries of her tremendous efforts to make the library more organized and accessible. Laura was responsible for implementing an electronic catalogue system for our collection. While we will miss her here, we are also happy for her as she will now have the opportunity to pursue her other interests.

Art is alive and well at Friends. There is an all-school display in the front lobby entitled “One Fish, Two Fish” that is based on the Dr. Seuss book. There are several imaginative pages and it is worth a look. Also, the 7/8 grade students have painted a “stained glass” mural on our front windows. The Quaker testimonies acronym “SPICES” is creatively painted and defined.

Reminders

Curriculum Night – We have rescheduled Curriculum Night to April 8^th from 7 to 8 p.m. This year we will be focusing on our social studies/theme curriculum. Teachers have fun activities planned and all families…parents and students, too… are invited to visit as many classrooms as they wish during the evening. This is a great way to learn about the social studies/theme curriculum at Friends. Please come.

Open House – Our next Open house is Friday, April 23^rd from 9:30 to 12 noon. Please help spread the word! We’ll also be looking for a few volunteers to help with the tours.

Headlines, March 19, 2010

2010-03-19T20:12:00.002-04:00

Spices, Ticks, and Ketchup

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather. Dare I say that spring is here?

Most weeks, I usually write something about your students and the great things that they study or do. This week I want to write about another great part of our school --- you. Every week numerous volunteers give us their time and energy to make this school great. Tinka Berger is our go-to substitute, Laura White tutors in math and answers phones, Barbara Voight can be found each morning at the copier, and Toby Short provides math enrichment and solar car help for our upper school students. We have parents helping with field trips and special activities; the food crew serves hot lunches and pizza; PSU student volunteers gain valuable experience; and older volunteers enjoy reading to our students. If I had to name all the volunteers who work to enrich the educational experience here at Friends, this small tribute would run on for pages. Thank you all for making this a community of learners.

Flu and tick season? – Here at school there has been a slight resurgence of flu-like illnesses. I suspect it is the sharing of germs gathered from various spring break destinations and hope it will taper off soon. Additionally, I have performed two tick extractions so far this week. Besides being another indicator of spring, it also tells me that our students play outdoors. I encourage everyone to continue to play outdoors and conduct a nightly tick check.

Reminders

Spices – The annual SPICES Gala is next Friday, March 26 at 7pm at the Atherton Hotel. There is great food, refreshments, music by Andy Tolins, good conversation and the company of friends. This is wonderful event that supports the scholarship fund at the school. Please see Beth Giles to get your tickets.

Books Wanted – The upper school is hosting a gently used book sale later this month to benefit earthquake victims in Haiti. Please bring your new or gently used books to the school during the next week. Then come to the book sale on Friday March 26^th from 4-6 p.m. or Saturday, March 27^th from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. to purchase your treasures.

Curriculum Night – We have rescheduled Curriculum Night to April 8^th from 7 to 8 p.m. This year we will be focusing on our social studies/theme curriculum. Teachers have fun activities planned and all families are invited to visit as many classrooms as they wish during the evening. This is a great way to learn about the social studies/theme curriculum at Friends. Please come.

Ketchup - Recently in art class, students participated in the Heinz Ketchup Creativity Contest. Twelve finalists will be chosen from all submissions and featured on this website. If you or child is interested in viewing the winning artwork or submitting an online vote for your favorite, please visit the website (www.ketchupcreativity.com) between March 22-27.

Annual Meeting – The Board of Directors will be hosting the annual meeting for the school on Tuesday evening April 13^th at 7pm. This is your chance to meet the board and ask questions about the state of the school. This year’s meeting will focus on developing a vision and strategic plan for the school. Input from the community is vital to this process and all are invited to attend.

Open House – Our next Open house is Friday, April 23^rd from 9:30 to 12 noon. Please help spread the word.

Headlines, March 12, 2010

2010-03-16T15:15:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone enjoyed their Spring Break. What amazing weather we had for most of the break! Five days of 50+ and sunshine. Wow!

Reminders

Books Wanted – The upper school is hosting a gently used book sale later this month to benefit earthquake victims in Haiti. Please bring your new or gently used books to the school during the next few weeks. Then come to the sale at the end of the month and pick up enough books to restock your shelves and enrich your mind.

Seed sales – Seed orders are due on Monday, March 15^th for the K/1 seed sale. The money earned by Teacher Lisa’s class will be donated to Heifer International.

Curriculum Night – [Postponed] This year we will be focusing on our social studies/theme curriculum. Teachers are preparing fun activities in each classroom and all families are invited to visit as many classrooms as they wish during the evening. This is a fun way to learn about the social studies/theme curriculum at Friends. Please come.

Open House – Our next Open house is Friday March 19^th from 9 to 12 noon. We are asking all parents to help spread the word and are also seeking a few volunteers to help with the tours.

Community Offerings - Spring is coming, with opportunities for quilting, gardening and enjoying organic produce! Tr. Dorothy’s “Quilting Bee with Lunch and Good Company” has been rescheduled and there’s still time to sign up! And we have two Community Offerings, from kindergarten parent Sabine Carey of Full Circle Farms, which will make you realize spring is just around the corner: an organic garden kit that will get you set for your own tasty organic garden in your back yard; and a full CSA farmshare - vegetables, flower and herbs - for the 2010 season. For more information, visit our Community Offerings website and the Full Circle Farms website, or contact Beth Giles, bgiles@scfriends.org.

Spices - We hope to see you there (Friday, March 26 at 7pm). One of our school parents who attended last year had this to say: “I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere It was really great to see people I see regularly but without kids to have enjoyable conversations and get to know people better. It was a nice casual event with great food, yummy local beers and lots of fun people. It was a great mix of people, some friends school parents but many from outside the school too.”

Headlines March 1, 2010

2010-03-01T19:30:00.001-05:00

Last Thursday Teacher Sunna’s class said their goodbyes with a shower. Every student decorated a onesie for Sunna’s baby. She was touched by their efforts and by the kindness shown by everyone in the school. We wish her and Russ all the best in the coming months and look forward to meeting the newest member of the family soon.

Rube Goldberg – Teacher Tim’s fourth grade class provided some oohs and ahs on Thursday as the class held its annual Rube Goldberg competition. This year’s task was to crush an aluminum can. This required heavier objects than in previous years and Tim threw in mousetraps for a little extra drama. These elements made for larger movements, louder noises and a certain sense of danger as the groups conceived and implemented unique ways to crush a can using boards, books and bricks. Congratulations to all the students for their efforts.

Friends School Basketball – Our school’s basketball program enjoyed a successful season. This year we joined forces with Nittany Christian and fielded a coed team of 14. We were able to play several games and even won a few. We held our blue/white game on Thursday and I got a kick from watching them coach themselves and play a spirited and supportive game with each other.

Reminders

Curriculum Night – On Thursday, March 18^th we will be holding our annual Family Curriculum Night from 7 to 8 p.m. This year we will be focusing on our social studies/theme curriculum. Teachers are preparing fun activities in each classroom to share with families. All families are invited to visit as many classrooms as they wish and learn about the social studies/theme curriculum at Friends. This is a great activity for everyone. Please come.

Winter Play Day - The Friends School is hosting a Play Day on Saturday, March 13^th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The school’s community room and k/1 classroom will be open for supervised active and imaginative play and staff will be available to provide tours and answer questions. The event is free and all are welcome.

Open House – Our next Open house is Friday March 19^th from 9 to 12 noon. We are asking all parents to help spread the word and are also seeking a few volunteers to help with the tours.

Community Offerings - Spring is coming, with opportunities for quilting, gardening and enjoying organic produce! Tr. Dorothy’s “Quilting Bee with Lunch and Good Company” has been rescheduled to Saturday, March 20. There’s still time to sign up! And we have two Community Offerings, from kindergarten parent Sabine Carey of Full Circle Farms, which will make you realize spring is just around the corner: an organic garden kit that will get you set for your own tasty organic garden in your back yard; and a full CSA farmshare - vegetables, flower and herbs - for the 2010 season. For more information, visit our Community Offerings website and the Full Circle Farms website, or contact Beth Giles, bgiles@scfriends.org.

Spices - Invitations for the SPICES Gala are in the mail. We hope to see you there, Friday, March 26 at 7pm. One of our school parents who attended last year had this to say: “I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. It was really great to see people I see regularly but without kids … to have enjoyable conversations and get to know people better. It was a nice casual event with great food, yummy local beers and lots of fun people. It was a great mix of people, some Friends School parents but many from outside the school too.”

Calling all Forsythia Forcers! - The decorating committee for SPICES is in need of volunteers to cut three- to four foot lengths of forsythia branches a week and a half ahead of the event (March 15). They will need to be placed in water so that they bloom. We also need vases which are vertical in shape- any size will do. If you are able and/or interested please contact Virginia Belser at 861-0987 or vcb2@pdu.edu.

Re- Enrollment –We ask that all parents complete the form and turn it into the office by March 5th. If you have any questions or concerns, please call or stop in to see Mary or Dan.

Headlines, February 19, 2010

2010-02-22T15:38:00.001-05:00

Library Display – Art work by our 2^nd and 3^rd grade students is featured on the Schlow Library bulletin boards this month. Drop by to see the work of our young artists. Thanks to art teacher, Laura Adams for organizing the show.

100 days – I attended part of the 100^th Day of School party held in Tr. Lisa’s room this week. To celebrate, the students counted various objects and ate 100. Don’t know how to eat 100? Ask a K/1 student.

Chinese New Year - Special thanks goes to school parents Ying Wang and Yanhua Wang for sharing Chinese New Year customs with the K/1 classes this week. Kerry Wiessmann and Beth Resko coordinated the celebration in Teacher Tim’s 4^th grade class, and we send our thanks to them, too.

Reminders

Open House and Winter Play Day - The Friends School is hosting a Saturday Play Day and Open House for children and parents tomorrow from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The school’s community room and k/1 classroom will be open for supervised active and imaginative play, and staff and parent volunteers will be available to provide tours of the school and answer questions. All are welcome; be sure to invite friends and neighbors!

Parent Coffee - On Wednesday, February 24 at 8:30 a.m., Dan and Teachers Bailey and Christy will be on hand to answer questions you may have about the current upper school program. Please come and find out more about the how the upper school program incorporates Quaker philosophy and educational practices. This is a perfect opportunity to ask questions and share insights. We’ll meet in the school library.

Parent-Teacher Conferences- Our mid-year parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, March 4 and 5. The conferences are scheduled for 30 minutes and will be held in your child’s classroom. Please call or stop by our front desk to schedule your time. Child care will be available both days from 8 to 5:30. Please let us know by Tuesday, March 2 to register your child.

Re- Enrollment – Parents should have received their re-enrollment letter and form this week. We ask that all parents complete the form and return it to the school office by March 5th. If you have any questions or concerns, please call or stop in to see Mary or Dan.

Science Fair – Check this week’s Friday Folders for the schedule for our March 1 Science Fair. If your child would like to participate, but has not yet returned the participation form, please do so by Monday.

Grocery Cards and Scrip – Don’t forget about our ongoing fundraising efforts through Giant and Weis grocery cards and the Scrip program. So far this year we have raised nearly $1800 from YOUR everyday shopping needs at Giant and Weis as well as hundreds of retailers in the Scrip program. If you have any questions or need a Scrip order form, please contact Diane.

Have a great weekend,

Dan

Headlines February 12, 2010

2010-02-15T11:30:00.001-05:00

Affirmations Abound – We are in the middle of an affirmation festival here at school. There has been a flurry of affirmations being passed around the building. With the class parties and reading buddies set for later today, it looks like another special day at Friends.

Basketball News – After getting overpowered by Meadowbrook Christian last week, the Friends School/Nittany Christian team has spent the past week in practice. We are preparing for the home stretch with four games in the next two weeks. Our spirits and expectations are high. Our final game will be at home on February 25^th. Details will be provided.

Reminders

Two of a Kind Concert - An award-winning husband-wife duo will perform a free concert for families and children of all ages on Saturday, February 13^th, at 11:00 a.m. in our Community Room. Two of Kind (www.twoofakind.com) performances feature songs, puppets, movement, and stories. All are welcome. Donations of food or funds for the State College Food Bank will be accepted.

Open House and Winter Play Day - Friends School is hosting a Saturday Play Day and Open House for children and parents on Saturday, February 20^th, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The school’s community room and k/1 classroom will be open for supervised active and imaginative play and staff will be available to provide tours and answer questions. The event is free and all are welcome. We would welcome a few volunteers to hang posters around town this week and serve as tour guides on Saturday morning. Please let Dan or Mary know if you can lend a hand.

School Closing Information – This week our school closing announcement did not make it onto the WPSU website. Despite our best efforts to properly announce school closings and delays, there is always a possibility that it will be missed by a media outlet. Please note that the school, in most cases, will follow the lead of the State College Area School District. When there is a closing or delay we notify most local radio stations, both news stations, and WPSU. We also change our voice mail message on the phone so you can call the school to check.

Volunteers Needed – We would love to have a parent(s) to drop off the fleece blankets that the children made at the hospital and some decorated meal bags to the Meals on Wheels Kitchen. Please see Diane to help.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Dan

Headlines, February 5, 2010

2010-02-06T13:27:00.002-05:00

200 Pounds, Posters, and Poetry

It has been relatively quiet in our halls these past two days. The school never feels quite right without the constant murmur of the classrooms seeping into the halls. It does make time for the administrators and teachers to discuss, plan, write, think, and breathe. Still, we miss the rhythm of the school day.

Poetry Slam – Think of a smoke filled, dimly lit coffee house with bearded philosophers - a perfect atmosphere for a Poetry Reading. The Upper School’s Poetry Slam had all this except for the smoke, low lights, coffee, and bearded philosophers. The Poetry Slam was great fun. The whole school attended and got to hear our budding poets recite verse and rhymes that made you laugh and think. Congratulations go out to Devlin Moose for the individual cheese award and to Lulu Yarber, Dagny Felker and Aria Sakona for the group poetry prize.

Food Drive – We donated over 200 pounds of food to the State College Food Bank this week. They were very grateful to accept our donation and I want to thank everyone who has participated in this drive at the school. We are still collecting donations. Bring your non-perishable items to the front lobby and place them in the green box.

Reminders

Financial Aid – This is a reminder to parents that your financial aid forms are due on Monday, February 8. You have the option of completing the application by hand or on the web. Please see Mary for details and questions.

Two of a Kind Concert - An award-winning husband-wife duo will perform a free concert for families and children of all ages on Saturday, February 13th at 11:00 a.m. in the Community Room. Two of Kind (www.twoofakind.com) performances feature songs, puppets, movement, and stories. All are welcome; please help spread the work and bring some friends! Donations of food or funds for the State College Food Bank will be accepted.

Open House and Winter Play Day - The Friends School is hosting a Saturday Play Day and Open House for children and parents on Saturday, February 20th, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The school’s community room and k/1 classroom will be open for supervised active and imaginative play, and staff will be available to provide tours and answer questions. The event is free and all are welcome. We would welcome a few volunteers to hang posters around town this week.

Newsletters –In addition to your classroom’s newsletter, parents with students in the first, third, and fourth grade classrooms will soon be receiving an email newsletter from the next grade’s classroom. This is an opportunity for parents to learn about the activities and programs taking place in the next grade level.

Enjoy the snow this weekend! Go Saints!

Dan

Headlines January 29, 2010

2010-02-01T12:57:00.003-05:00

Tea Party, February 20, and C-Net

Tea Party – I have just returned from a very enjoyable event. Tr. Sunna’s 2/3 classroom hosted a tea and poetry-reading party. When I entered the classroom, I was escorted to my seat and made to feel at home by my host, Claudia. After all of the guests arrived, the students assembled and read a selection of poems they’d written on frogs, horses, the seasons and jumbled creatures. The readings were performed with energy and emotion. Later, we were all served cookies and tea and each family received a book of poetry. What a great way to culminate a unit of study. It was so civilized. Thanks to all of the students for their creative efforts and to the parents who helped.

Move- Up Night – Several parents attended Move- Up Night on Thursday and took advantage of the opportunity to find out what goes on in the next classroom. They were able to meet teachers, ask questions and learn about the curriculum. Thanks to all for attending. As always, parents are also welcome to stop in anytime to find out more.

Reminders

In-service Days – Next Thursday and Friday, February 4th and 5th are teacher in-service days at the school. There will be no school on either of these two days. Please contact the school if you want to register your student for the child care program.

Open House and Winter Play Day - Friends School is hosting a Saturday Play Day and Open House for children and parents on Saturday, February 20th, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The school’s community room and k/1 classrooms will be open for supervised active and imaginative play, and staff will be available to provide tours and answer questions. The event is free and all are welcome. Your assistance in spreading the word is invaluable. Please help if you can.

Two of a Kind Concert - An award-winning husband-wife duo will perform a free concert for families and children of all ages on Saturday, February 13th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Community Room. Two of Kind (www.twoofakind.com) performances feature songs, puppets, movement, and stories. All are welcome. Donations of food or funds for the State College Food Bank will be accepted.

Financial Aid – This is a reminder to parents that your financial aid application should be submitted by Monday, February 8. You have the option of completing the application by hand or online. Please see Mary for details and questions.

See us on C-Net - The Friends School Performance of King in Montgomery will be broadcast by C-Net at the following dates and times (Comcast Channel 7):
Jan 29 - 9:00 p.m. and Jan 30 - 11:00 a.m.

Have a safe and healthy weekend.
Dan

King, Donations, and Two of A Kind

2010-01-23T10:28:00.002-05:00

MLK Celebration – How could I not lead with this event? As always, our school’s celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King was special. Our upper school students did a wonderful job of adapting the original play and the Peace Choir lent their voices to the songs. A big thank you goes out to this year’s director, Pam Monk, Choir director Will Hancock and musician Celia Millington-Wyckoff for their hard work. Also, the school would like to thank all those who volunteered their time and talents to making this production a success. Without your efforts and voices, this performance would never be heard. And that would be a tragedy.

Did you know that our school’s celebration does not start and end with the play? In the morning we brought the entire school to the Friends Meeting House for silent worship and reflection. Following Meeting, we watched a few of Dr. King’s speeches together. In the classrooms, teachers led activities to help their students understand the Reverend’s life, words and actions.

Haitian Relief Efforts – The school’s collection has yielded over $300 so far for relief efforts in Haiti. We will be forwarding this money to the American Friends Service Committee (www.afsc.org) who is already in the country and providing medical supplies and food to victims. More donations are needed and we ask you to consider making further donations to the charity of your choice.

It Happened Again – Once more, we received donations for our scholarship fund from Pennsylvania businesses through the Education Income Tax Credit Program. Universal Health Services and Universal Health Services of Pennsylvania combined to provide our school with a $15,000 donation to our scholarship fund. We are very grateful that they thought highly of our program and decided to support us in our education efforts.

Reminders

Move Up Night – Parents are encouraged to attend Move Up Night on Thursday January 28th from 7:00–8:00 p.m. Although we cannot make definite class assignments until families make their re-enrollment commitments, we do know that first graders will move to 2nd grade and 3rd graders will move up to fourth grade and the fourth graders will move up to fifth next fall. This is your opportunity to meet teachers, ask questions, and get information on the curriculum, program and activities in the next grade.

Open House and Winter Play Day - The Friends School is hosting a Saturday Play Day and Open House for children and parents on Saturday, February 20th, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The school’s community room and k/1 classroom will be open for supervised active and imaginative play and staff will be available to provide tours and answer questions. The event is free and all are welcome. Your assistance in spreading the word is invaluable. Please help if you can.

Two of a Kind Concert - An award-winning husband-wife duo will perform a free concert for families and children of all ages on Saturday, February 13th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Community Room. Two of Kind (www.twoofakind.com) performances feature songs, puppets, movement, and stories. All are welcome. Donations of food or funds for the State College Food Bank will be accepted.

See us on C-Net - The Friends School Performance of King in Montgomery will be broadcast by C-Net at the following dates and times (Comcast Channel 7):
Jan 24 1:00 p.m.
Jan 25 2:00 p.m.
Jan 26 7:00 a.m.
Jan 29 9:00 p.m.
Jan 30 11:00 a.m.

Have a safe and healthy weekend.
Dan

Headlines, Kindness and King

2010-01-16T11:55:00.002-05:00

Everyday Kindness – Today I was watching your children arrive at school. Some, like Tristen charge off the bus, make a beeline for the door and put themselves inside the building in a matter of seconds. Others like Aria and Sarah White move at a more leisurely pace. They seemed to be at ease as they approached the school. As I was wondering if this was age-related or a predictor of future deportment, a wonderful event unfolded in front of me. Bus #27 pulled up to the curb and opened its doors. Apollo rocketed out of the bus and ran to the front door. However, in the time that it takes to open the door, I watched his face transform from happiness to complete panic. He stopped in his tracks and I could hear “My backpack is on the bus!” as he turned back to run after the now departing bus. I was about to come out and assist when I saw Dagny carrying his backpack in her hand. She stepped in front of Apollo to slow him and held out his bag. Quick as a wink, his face changed again from panic to big smile. He thanked her and Dagny said “You’re welcome” as she went on her way. I continued to watch the parade of students enter the building and I began to take greater notice of the level of kindness that was being demonstrated by all of our students. Doors were being held open for others, “thank you” and “good morning” could be heard and there was a genuine respect given to each person’s unique style of entering the building. Kindness and respect are important for a school and I was glad to have the opportunity to be a witness this morning.

Open House Thanks – We had a great Open House today. Several families came into the school and left quite impressed with our students, teachers, program and community. Thank you all for helping us to spread the word by posting flyers and telling friends. Special thanks to Kara Gehman, Betsy Gamble, Kathy Sakona, Julia Spicher Kasdorf, Lauren Dornell Neal, and Jennifer Borgardt for their help as tour guides.

Reminders
Please see the extensive handout in the Friday folder for all the announcements.

Martin Luther King Day News- King in Montgomery – Ten Years in the Non-violent Civil Rights Movement will be performed by our upper school and the King Chorus at our school on Martin Luther King Day; January 18th at 1:00 PM. We will also be performing a segment of our show at Penn State’s Martin Luther King Celebration on Wednesday evening, January 20th beginning at 6 p.m. in the Eisenhower Auditorium. The event is free for all and tickets are available at the school.

Special Collection – Prior to and after the MLK performance, the school will be taking donations for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Collection tins will be located in the community room and hall ways.

King Choir practice – Will Hancock asked me to extend the invitation for chorus practice to all the singing groups (adult chorus, students, and peace choir) this Sunday, January17th from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Practice will be held in the Library. Hope to see you there.

Have a safe and healthy weekend.
Dan

Babies, Special Thanks, Open House, Move-Up Night, Pajama Day and a Concert!

2010-01-09T14:39:00.000-05:00

Welcome back, everyone. I hope you all enjoyed a safe and restful break.

Birth Announcements - On December 24th , Maxwell Graham Cooper came into the world. He is a healthy baby boy weighing in at almost eight pounds. We are pleased to report that everyone is doing well. Congratulations Tr. Sarah and Blaine! Former teacher, Laura Krebs, and her husband Brian had their second child, Max Collins Beabout, who was also born on December 24th.

Scholarship Donations – Special thanks go out to Art Curtze and Northwest Savings Bank for their generous donations to our scholarship fund. Art is a long-time friend and alumni dad who strongly believes in the benefits of Friends education and has generously donated $10,000 to the scholarship fund from his foundation. Northwest Savings Bank, through the Education Income Tax Credit Program offered through the State of Pennsylvania, made a donation of $5,000 to the school’s scholarship fund.

Bottle Cap Recycling – Recently, we expanded our school’s recycling program to include bottle caps. Just prior to the break Pam Adams and some first graders collected and used estimation to count the caps. We collected over 5,000 caps that weighed over 28lbs. Keep ‘em coming.

Reminders:
Open House – Our first Admissions Open House of the season will be held on Friday, January 15 from 9:30 a.m. – noon. We’ll be inviting prospective families to visit that morning to tour the school and see the classrooms in action. We’d appreciate your help in spreading the word. Look for a flyer to post in the Friday Folder.

Martin Luther King Day News - King in Montgomery – Ten Years in the Non-violent Civil Rights Movement will be performed by our upper school and the King Chorus at our school on Martin Luther King Day, January 18th at 1:00 PM. We will also be performing a segment of our show at Penn State’s Martin Luther King Celebration on Wednesday, evening January 20th beginning at 6 PM in Eisenhower Auditorium. The event is free for all.

King Choir practice - All are invited to join the chorus. Join us for practice on Sundays, January 10 and January 17th from 1:00 to 2:30pm. Practice will be held in the Community Room. Your voice is needed.

Move- Up Night – On Thursday January 28th, from 7 to 8 pm we will be hosting a Move- Up Night for parents who have students that will be changing classrooms in the next school year. This is an opportunity for parents to meet the teachers in the next classroom, ask questions and receive information about the program and curriculum. All parents of students in the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th grade classrooms are encouraged to attend.

After School Program – After School classes and activities begin next week. There are still some openings in selected activities. Please check at the front desk.

Pajama Day – All-school Pajama Day will be next Thursday, January 14th. Students and adults are free to dress in their PJs and bring their favorite stuffed animal and blanket to school. Thanks to Sequoia Falcone and Lachlan Campbell for getting this important day organized.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays, Jan 16th, February 20th and March 13th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM Friends School is hosting Saturday Play Days for children from 3-7 years old. The school‘s community room and classrooms 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome. Please contact the school at (814) 237-8386.

Free Concert - The musical singing duo, Two of a Kind will perform here at the school in mid-February. Two of a Kind presents concerts for families and children of all ages all with an emphasis on interaction and participation. This event is free and open to the public. Details will follow soon.

Have a safe and healthy weekend.
Dan

Headlines, December 18, 2009

2009-12-21T16:03:00.002-05:00

On the other side – Last week I wrote about the 7/8 grade science class. I wrote about their engagement and motivation to learn. This week, I decided to travel to the Trs. Dorothy and Elli’s K/1 class to find out what engagement looks like in their classroom. Several students were working with Tr. Elli creating holiday cards for classroom helpers Ferne and Richard while others were in the alcove with Tr. Dorothy in a reading lesson. The students making cards were seated at a large table with colored paper, glue, crayons, markers and scissors; highly motivating for K/1 students. In addition to creating original works of art to express their thanks, it was obvious that Tr. Elli was helping these students develop several different skills. In between expressions of encouragement and support (“it’s beautiful, I like the colors you chose”), she provided gentle reminders on sharing materials, voice volume and helping with reading (“That’s right merry has the Mmm sound”). Dividing the class gave both teachers time to work more closely with individuals and kept the students more engaged and on task. While academics are always part of the Friends program, teachers in the early grades also work with students to develop self-control, practice social skills and experience success. These are life lessons that will help them in their studies in the upper grades. A truly appropriate curriculum for the age.

MLK Music – Want to get a head start on learning the songs for King in Montgomery? Thanks to the efforts of Will Hancock, we now have an audio CD available of the songs. Ask Diane at the front desk for your copy.

$5,000.00 Scholarship Donation – A special thank you goes out to First National Bank of Pennsylvania for their generous donation to our scholarship fund. Through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program offered through the State of Pennsylvania, businesses that pay taxes to Pennsylvania can make scholarship donations to Friends School and take a credit of up to 90% on their state tax return. This also typically lowers their federal tax liability as well. Please let us know at the school if you know of any businesses that may be interested in this program.

Reminders

Holiday Gathering – On Tuesday, December 22, we’ll gather in the community room at 1:45 p.m. for our annual Holiday Gathering. We’ll do some singing together and nibble cookies before we all depart for our holiday break. All families are invited, and we hope you will plan to join us.

Open House – Our first Admissions Open House of the season will be held on Friday, January 15 from 9:30 a.m. – noon. We’ll be inviting prospective families to visit that morning to tour the school and see the classrooms in action. We’d appreciate your help in spreading the word, and we hope you’ll let Mary know if you might like to lend a hand as a tour guide.

Food Drive – The 7/8 grade class will be taking the lead on the food drive this winter. Look for more announcements soon.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays Jan 16th, February 20th and March 13th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, Friends School is hosting Saturday Play Days for children from 3-7 years old. The school‘s community room and a 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome.

Sing with King – I would like to invite all families and friends to participate in the King Chorus for our annual production of King in Montgomery: Ten Years in the Non-Violent Civil Rights Movement. This is an uplifting and moving performance that needs your voice to come alive. Previous choir experience is not necessary, only the desire to sing out in a big group. Contact the school for more information or to sign up.

Have a safe and healthy weekend.
Dan

Headlines December 11, 2009

2009-12-11T16:08:00.006-05:00

Written in Blood - Teaching science comes with several advantages over other subjects. Depending on the specific topic, there are usually things to grow, change, move, or blow up. However, using these characteristics to teach science well takes skill. On Tuesday, Teacher Bailey was using hydrogen peroxide, salt, magnesium and blood from a calf’s liver to teach about catalysts in chemical reactions. The experiment came first and the students were all actively engaged in the activity of adding blood to the different mixes they made with the other chemicals. Afterwards, she led them in a discussion of their results and why they differed between groups. Her students were then able to define and talk about the function of catalysts for her. Only then did they write in their notebooks. She could have just had them take notes in the beginning of class but where would be the fun in that? Learning occurs when there is engagement and what 7/8 grade student wouldn’t want to watch blood foam and percolate? Tr. Bailey’s lesson plan accomplished the goal of defining a catalyst but also brought students a deeper understanding of what a catalyst can do, how it works and the scientific thinking process. It literally served as a “catalyst” for deeper understanding of science and a great example on how to engage students in learning.

South Pole – Wednesday’s storm ushered in our first cold blast of the year. On Thursday if you looked just the right way over the school field, you would have sworn you were on the South Pole. Snow forts with antenna dotted the barren landscape while groups of heavily bundled “explorers” fought the elements to navigate the icy terrain.

Reminders

Holiday Gathering – On Tuesday, December 22, we’ll gather in the community room at 1:45 p.m. for our annual Holiday Gathering. We’ll do some singing together and nibble cookies before we all depart for our holiday break. All families are invited, and we hope you will plan to join us.

Peace Choir Performance – You’re invited. Tomorrow, December 12, the school’s Peace Choir will perform at the Toys for Tots Pancake Breakfast at the Ramada Inn at ~9:00 a.m. This is one of their first public performances in a while and they are excited. Bring an unwrapped toy for the drive and come out and support our choir and a worthy cause.

Community Offerings -- We hope you will consider giving the gift of a Friends School Community Offering to family or friends (or yourself) this holiday season. Please check out our new Community Offerings page on the web. http://scfscommofferings.blogspot.com/

Open House – Our first Admissions Open House of the season will be held on Friday, January 15 from 9:30 a.m. – noon. We’ll be inviting prospective families to visit that morning to tour the school and see the classrooms in action. We’d appreciate your help in spreading the word, and we hope you’ll let Mary know if you might like to lend a hand as a tour guide.

A Book for Every Child –This is the last week for this program. Help us help this great local cause that seeks to put a book in every child’s hand in Centre County.

Food Drive – Look in the Friday folders for more information on the food drive.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays Jan 16th, February 20th and March 13th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM the Friends School is hosting Saturday Play Days for children from 3-7 years old. The school‘s Community Room and a 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome.

Sing with King – I would like to invite all families and friends to participate in the King Chorus for our annual production of King in Montgomery: Ten Years in the Non-Violent Civil Rights Movement. This is an uplifting and moving performance that needs your voice to come alive. Previous choir experience is not necessary, only the desire to sing out in a big group. Contact the school for more information or to sign up.

Have a safe and healthy weekend.
Dan

Headlines December 4, 2009

2009-12-08T12:49:00.001-05:00

After an event-filled theme week and our Thankful Tuesday celebration, who could blame us for trying to have a relatively “normal” week at Friends? This was a week to hit the books and make good use of our classroom time. Throughout the week, the quiet hum of academics in the classroom was occasionally interrupted by the shouts of recess.

Developing Self-Regulation in Children –Thirty parents joined us for this interesting and informative evening with Dr. Karen Bierman. We were also able to discuss some particular concerns with her and the group. The children who attended also had a great time in our child care program. Look for more of these events in the future. Thanks again to professor and parent Karen Bierman for sharing her research and insights with us.

Staff Development – We also extend our thanks to school parent, Jason Gines. He provided our staff with two in-service sessions on diversity issues. The presentations and open discussions helped us begin to explore diversity and discrimination issues. Thanks again to Jason for his knowledge and ability to engage us in thoughtful conversation.

Reminders

Holiday Gathering – On Tuesday, December 22, we’ll gather in the Community Room at 1:45 p.m. for our annual Holiday Gathering. We’ll do some singing together and nibble cookies before we all depart for our holiday break. All families and friends are invited, and we hope you’ll plan to join us.

Peace Choir/Foxdale Chorus Performance – You’re invited! Tomorrow, December 5, the school’s Peace Choir will perform with the Foxdale Chorus. This special event will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Foxdale Auditorium. We’re excited by the opportunity to combine our voices with those of our neighbors. Thanks to Ann Clements, Peace Choir director, for her work in making this happen.

Open House – Our first Admissions Open House of the season will be held on Friday, January 15 from 9:30 a.m. – noon. We’ll be inviting prospective families to visit that morning to tour the school and see the classrooms in action. We’d appreciate your help in spreading the word, and we hope you’ll let Mary know if you might like to lend a hand as a tour guide.

A Book for Every Child – We are still taking donations for your new or slightly used books. This is a great local cause which seeks to put a book in the hand of every child in Centre County.
Food Bank Collection – Our collection box for Food Bank donations is in our front lobby. All kinds of food items are needed by local families this season, and you can drop off your contributions at any time.

Sing with King – I would like to invite all families and friends to participate in the King Chorus for our annual production of King in Montgomery: Ten Years in the Non-Violent Civil Rights Movement. This is an uplifting and moving performance that needs your voice to come alive. Previous choir experience is not necessary, only the desire to sing out in big group. Contact the school for more information or to sign up.

Free Winter Play Days – On Saturdays Jan 16th, February 20th and March 13th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, Friends School will host Saturday Play Days for children from 3-7 years old. The school‘s Community Room and a 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. Refreshments and snacks will be served. All are welcome.

Have a safe and healthy weekend.

Dan