Families - newly enrolled and current - gathered last night at the Lower School for an Ice Cream Social.

Lower School News

Message from Kelly Pierre

It is with mixed emotions that I share with you the following faculty who will be moving on to new adventures next year. We thank each of them for the time, commitment, and effort they have given to their work in the Lower School, and beyond. Their contributions are many. While we will miss them here on Old Gulph Rd., we wish Laedoan Lewis, Lexie Adorno, and Peter Grove much success and happiness in their future endeavors. Read Kelly's full message about Laedoan, Lexie, and Peter here.

After-School Clubs End This Week

This coming week, the week of May 22, Monday through Thursday Clubs will meet for the last time. Please be sure to let Pat DeSabato know your afternoon transportation plans for your child for those days during the last three weeks of school. Only Fridays' Clubs are extended to June 2.

Grades 4 & 5 Parents - LS Faculty Appreciation Tea - May 30 

*Please note the date change*

We are one week away from the tea! We need volunteers! Please consider giving us a bit of your time to help set up or clean up. Click here to sign up to volunteer or donate food. Questions? Contact Julie Lederman.

Grade 5 Parents - Grade 5 to 6 Transition Meeting - May 23

Parents of rising grade 6 students (current grade 5) are invited to a morning coffee with Middle School Principal Alexa Quinn on Tuesday, May 23 at 8:45 am in MS Room 10. She will be answering your questions about the transition from the Lower School to the Middle School. After the Q&A, join her for a tour.

If you have a question you would like Alexa to address, click here for the question form.

Latest Phoenix Press Issue Now Out!
Click here to read the latest Phoenix Press - a publication of the 5th Grade Newspaper Club.

Lost & Found - Chance to Claim Lost Items!
It is time to come to check the Lower School Lost & Found for any items your child has left at school. The Lost & Found is located in the lobby area of the main Lower School building. Please look for missing items by May 26. Any items remaining after May 26 will be removed and donated.

Lettuce Feed You Highlights for the Upcoming Week

All meals are served with salad and fresh fruit.

• Monday: Lasagna with Sautéed Spring Peas 
• Tuesday: (Kids' Choice) Lemon & Herb Roasted Chicken with Couscous 
• Wednesday: (Kids' Choice) Vegetable Fried Rice
• Thursday: (Kids' Choice) Chicken Cheese Steak w/ Housemade French Fries
• Friday: Pizza Day!

On Wednesday, Middle School students hosted visitors from Carousel House, who enjoyed a walk around the FCS grounds with their student friends.

Middle School News

Message from Alexa Quinn

Please join me in thanking Hank Adamczyk for his two years of service as a Middle School teacher. Hank is leaving Friends' Central at the end of this year to become a math teacher at Holy Child School at Rosemont. Hank has taught Social Studies and Shop and has worked tirelessly in support of the Makerspace here at FCS. He has also been active in all aspects of the Middle School program (drama, athletics, service, clubs, and more) and was incredibly helpful to us when we had two situations in which teachers had to be absent from school for extended periods of time. Hank is a true Renaissance man, a committed educator, and a wonderful colleague. Read Alexa's full message about Hank, as well as other important info, here.

Grade 6 Workshop with Al Vernacchio

During Community Block on Tuesday, May 23, Al Vernacchio will be holding a workshop for the entire sixth grade entitled "Puberty: Beyond the Body." This workshop was originally scheduled for May 9. Many lessons on puberty focus on the changes that happen to bodies but often neglect the important emotional and social changes that puberty brings. This interactive session will help sixth graders identify, explain, and normalize some of those important social and emotional changes.

Current Grade 8 Families: Information about Eighth Grade Events

You should have received an email from Alexa with details on the upcoming culminating events for the eighth grade. If you missed it, you can read the letter and find all of the information here.

Rising Grade 7 & 8 Parents: Save the Dates!

Rising Seventh Grade Families: Please save the dates for the seventh grade's overnight trip to the Echo Hill Outdoor School from Sept. 26 through 29. Yom Kippur begins at sundown on the September 29, so we will be arriving back to campus by 3 pm to allow for families observing the holiday to pick up their children and leave for services or family gatherings. You will receive more information on the trip itself in the coming months, but please let us know if you have any questions at this time.

Rising Eighth Grade Families: Please save the dates for the eighth grade's overnight trip to Washington, D.C. We will leave FCS early Sunday, Sept. 24 and return late on Monday, Sept. 25. Because this trip overlaps with a weekend, we wanted you to know the dates early for planning and scheduling. You will receive more information on the trip itself when school begins in September, but please let us know if you have any questions at this time.

Grade 8 Showcase - Friday, June, 2 • 7 pm
(Grade 8 students, please arrive at 5 pm)
On June 2, grade 8 students will share their myriad talents during this year's annual 8th Grade Showcase. Come see and hear the talents of the Class of 2021 at this unforgettable evening. Parent volunteers are needed to make the Showcase a success – from help with the pre-showcase pizza party to the post-showcase dessert reception. Click here to volunteer time or contribute dessert.

Make the memories last! Preorder a DVD of the Grade 8 Showcase here.

Middle School Concert Tonight - Order Your DVD
Order a DVD of tonight's MS Concert! Click here for the form.

Reminder to Parents of Middle School Artists
Come to see your child perform on stage~
Leave with their art creation…
Please take their art pieces home--displayed in the gallery.
With appreciation,
~ Caroline Maw-Deis

On Wednesday evening, the academic achievements of a number of Upper School students were celebrated at the Academic Awards Ceremony.

Upper School News

Message from Art Hall

I would like to thank four outstanding educators who will unfortunately be leaving FCS at the end of this year. From two years to 17 years of service, Upper School teachers Steve Patterson, Jenni Punt, Danielle David, and Monty Ogden have had a tremendous impact on our community, and their passion and dedication to our school and our students, as well as their personalities and wisdom, will be missed. We wish them luck and happiness in their future endeavors. Read Art's full message about Steve, Jenni, Danielle, and Monty here.

Final Exam Schedule

Click here to view the Upper School Final Exam Schedule.

Spring Varsity and Senior Athletic Awards Celebration - May 25

Parents of spring and senior athletes, don't miss the opportunity to celebrate our student-athletes at our Awards Celebration on Thursday, May 25 at 7 pm in Shallcross Hall. Families of athletes who are seniors and/or who participated in a spring Varsity sport are welcome to join us. 

Save the Date: Arts Banquet - May 30

The Upper School Arts Banquet will take place on Tuesday, May 30. Watch your inbox early next week for the invitation. 

Yearbook Purchase

Each year has its own special moments - and they're all in the yearbook. A personalized copy for each grade 12 student has already been ordered by the School and will be charged to the student's account. All other students who are interested in purchasing a yearbook, click here.

Spring Concert DVDs: Need a Memento? Purchase a DVD!

• US Choral Concert DVD Order Form
• US Instrumental Concert DVD Order Form  

Prize-winning Prose and Poetry 

At the Academic Awards Assembly on Wednesday, the English department presented awards to the winners of our annual writing contest.

The winner of The Ramsey Award for Prose was Karishma Singh '18, 
The Poets and Playwrights Prize was awarded to Angela Zhang '18, and Eliza Caisse '18, Angela Zhang, and Dylan Mitchell '19 each received an Honorable Mention for their submissions. Click here for a PDF of the booklet the English department created to celebrate these achievements.

Upcoming Upper School Drama Performances:

The Real Inspector Hound and Dogg's Hamlet by Tom Stoppard
Grade 9 & 10 Play

Wednesday, May 24 and Friday, May 26 at 7 pm

Staged Reading of Magic Man by Kendra Allman '17
Thursday, June 1, 7 pm 

Staged Reading of To an Undiscovered Universe (and back)
Written and performed by Julian Shapiro-Barnum '17 and Noelle Mercer '17
Saturday June 3, 1 pm

Annual Fringe Festival of Performance Art Around the Oval

Thursday, June 1, 9:50-10:20 am

Upcoming College Fairs:

The Shipley College Fair, co-sponsored by FCS and area independent schools, takes place on Tuesday, May 23, from 6:30 - 8 pm at The Shipley School. Admission officers from over 100 colleges and universities – including many schools to which FCS students regularly apply – will be present to represent their institutions. Click here for a list of participating colleges. (Please note, this list has been updated since last week's JTF.)

In addition, several colleges, both independently and as a consortium, will be hosting information sessions over the coming weeks. For a partial list, click here.