On Thursday, third grade students culminated their exploration of Native American cultures with the annual feast and Blessing Ceremony. Click here for more photos. 

Lower School News

Message from Kelly Pierre

5th grade: you were the leaders of our Lower School, and you were models of camaraderie - as one of your newest classmates told parents at an Open House, "At this school, everyone in my grade gets along." You are all smart and kind, and each contributes a gift that makes your class stand out. It has been so heartwarming for us to watch you each shine as individuals while also celebrating one another's gifts. You cheered for your classmates' athletic accomplishments at recess and success in Robotics, you admired their mathematical abilities, looked on in awe at your peers' musical talents, and stood back and watched as others created creative masterpieces and manipulated building materials with ease and ingenuity. You inspired not one book club, but two, and encouraged your friends that wrote for the newspaper, publishing 7 issues! You helped to grow the Lower School's first chorus from 28 students to 46, and we watched you flex your math muscles in problem of the week. You managed the School's first aeroponic towers, growing cucumbers, kale, zucchini, and basil and created independent projects in the Light Lab to better help us understand the experiences of people around the world. You designed your own science experiments teaching us which products were best and how to manipulate recipes and objects for larger explosions and higher bounces. You have set the bar high for those that come after you, 5th grade. We have no doubt that as a group you are going to go forth and "peacefully transform the world." You have inspired us, and we will not forget you. Click here for Kelly's full message.

Click here for the latest Phoenix Press!
Congratulations to all the fifth graders who did a fabulous job working on Phoenix Press throughout the year! They produced seven issues during the 2016-2017 school year!

Mighty Maker Camp - Aug. 14-26
Rising grades 1-5 students, join us this summer in the Light Lab for one or two weeks to create, learn, and have some summer fun! Click here for more information.

Middle School Phoenix Game Day on Thursday was a blast! Click here for more photos.

Middle School News

Message from Alexa Quinn

Our final week of school was overflowing with fun, community spirit, and celebration. On Monday, we announced the recipients of our eighth grade citizenship awards in the morning and celebrated Mr. Fifer's retirement (after 36 years at Friends' Central and 48 in education) in the afternoon. On Tuesday, each grade had its own culminating activity: a trip to Old City in Philadelphia, a cohesion day with bowling, and a day at Six Flags Great Adventure. On Wednesday, students concluded classes and wrapped up their service projects. On Thursday, we held our annual field day, Phoenix Game Day, in which students competed with their color teams to win the coveted Phoenix Cup. Today, we celebrated our eighth graders in our Meeting for Leaving, a ceremony in which eighth graders cross a symbolic threshold. Click here for Alexa's full message, including a message about Anne Kenealy and a parting message from Mark Fifer.

STEAM Explorers

June 26-July 28 • 8:30 am-12:30 pm - for girls and boys entering grade 5-7

On your marks. Get set. Make! FCS's inaugural Maker Camp is an excellent way for inquisitive children entering grades 5-7 to ignite their creativity, discover their passions, and have fun! Each week, using the newly renovated Maker Space on our City Avenue campus, campers will explore different themes from computer programming and electronics to sewing and design, 3D printing, and fabrication. Campers will spend their morning working side by side with counselors and fellow students, engaging their minds and their hands in a unique, interactive environment. Camper may join the Trailblazer Camp in the afternoon for Pathfinder Activities. Campers may join Trailblazer for weeks 6 and 7 at the bundled price option. Please see Session Descriptions for more information on our offerings. 

Middle School

Showcase DVD - Click here for the order form.

Rising Grade 7 & 8 Parents: Save the Dates!

Rising Grade 7 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 Grade 8 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.

Upper School students had a special guest on campus this week - Graham, a therapy dog, who visited to help with stress relief during exam week. Graham is the therapy dog of Caroline Fenkel '07, Founding Director of Center for Families.

Upper School News

Message from Art Hall
What a beautiful day for the end of the school year. Students celebrated the end of finals and the arrival of summer. In typical end-of-the-year fashion, Felsen Common was full of Upper School students eating, saying their goodbyes, and listening to music by our live house band. I will miss this celebratory spirit as I move on to my next adventure.

To the Class of 2017: tomorrow will mark the end of an extraordinary FCS journey. Some of you are "lifers," others joined the community as new Upper School students, but either way, you are forever a part of Friends' Central School. I am deeply grateful to have been your Principal, and I hope you will come back to visit the many faculty members who have helped you achieve such great heights. You don't know it, but you are already missed.

You are a special group of leaders. You have displayed your talents significantly this year, and I can only imagine all the great things you will accomplish at your respective colleges and universities. May you all receive the blessings you deserve.

Thank you!

Important Commencement Information

For Commencement on June 10, students will be wearing caps & gowns. We ask that, in keeping with the honor of the occasion, graduates be mindful of the Friends testimony of simplicity in their choice of dress under their gowns.
Therefore, the graduating class may wear:

• An appropriate dress, top and skirt, or dress pants and dress shirt
• Where appropriate, a tie is suggested
• Dress shoes are suggested; low or flat heels are recommended for safety reasons

Under their gowns, graduates may not wear:

• Jeans or t-shirts of any kind
• Clothing with pictures or wording
• Flip-flops or house shoes (slippers)

The graduating class photo will be taken at 8:45 am on the morning of Commencement on the Commencement Terrace (adjacent to the Main Building). All seniors must plan to arrive by that time so that the formal photograph can be taken promptly. We suggest an 8:30 am arrival time at the Main Building. The ceremony will begin at 10 am and lasts about one hour. Immediately after Commencement, seniors, families, and friends are invited to an outdoor reception. There is no assigned seating. All family members are invited (no tickets needed to attend). In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony, class picture, and reception will take place in the Shimada Athletic Center gymnasium. There is ample seating for all who wish to attend. Additionally, our maintenance staff will provide transportation from the parking lot to the gymnasium for anyone who needs assistance. 

Baccalaureate Meeting for Worship is tonight Friday, June 9 at 7 pm. While seniors are required to attend, we have enjoyed a very long tradition of students, parents, and faculty gathering together in the manner of Friends.

For more details about Commencement, including information about professional photography and video, click here.

Commencement DVD - Click here for the order form.