Friday, November 10, 2017 | Volume IV • Issue 11

All-School News

Third Annual Diversity Conference - Tomorrow, Nov. 11 • 8 am-5 pm, City Ave. Campus

 

Parents for Diversity Meeting - This Monday, November 13, 7 pm, MS Room 10

As the tri-clerks for the Parents for Diversity committee, we are excited to invite our fellow FCS parents, caregivers, and host families to the first quarterly meeting of Parents for Diversity.  
Who should join us (and when and where): All members of the FCS community who value diversity and equity! Our community is diverse in myriad ways, and FCS's commitment to equity encompasses all of them. If you're thinking "well, I'm not sure whether my family adds to FCS's diversity, but these issues sure are important to me," you are welcome, too. The meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 13 from 7-8:30 pm, in Room 10 of the Middle School Building. We look forward to seeing you there! -Lisa Matthewson (Evan '20), Timika Lane (Tori '19), Allessandro Condiff (Noah '19)

 

Asian American Affinity Group Family Dinner - Sunday, Nov. 12, 6-8 pm

If you or your family members are Asian American by heritage, marriage, or adoption, or if you are simply interested in learning more about being Asian American, please come and join us as we hold a casual family dinner at Pho Street in Bryn Mawr. Hosted by Catherine Chiang and Kavitha Goyal. Click here for the Evite.

 

We are in the Midst of MANNA Pie Sales - and YOU Should be a Part of it!

The student-run Upper School Service Committee is working with MANNA, a Philadelphia non-profit organization that nourishes seriously ill patients and their families, to sell pies; each of these pies sold is enough money to support a family in need. Flavors available include: Pumpkin, Apple, Pecan, Sweet Potato, and the famous Sky Pie. You have less than a week left to buy your MANNA pie. To help us with this initiative, you can buy a pie by clicking here. Online orders are due Nov. 16! If you have any questions, please contact Annie Roberts '18 or Ben Miller '20. Thank you for your support!

 

Get Back In the Classroom! Enjoy A Night Out at FCS - November 20

Don't miss this unique opportunity to get a taste of the educational experience your children receive every day. A Night Out takes place on Monday, Nov. 20 at 7 pm and will feature a short keynote talk by Mariama Richards, Assistant Head of School for Academic Program; a 45-minute class, generously offered by our outstanding faculty; refreshments; and an opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Click here to register!

 

Phonathon Volunteers Needed for #GivingTuesday 11/28
Please contact Sarah Duda at sduda@friendscentral.org or 610-645-5056 to join us for a Phonathon for the Friends' Central Fund on Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 2-8 pm, or you can make calls or send emails from home! It's a great way to get involved with and get to know the FCS community!

Do You Go to the Ardmore Chipotle? If so, support the FCS Girls' Basketball Team on Nov. 21!

The Varsity girls' basketball team is hosting a fundraiser at the Ardmore Chipotle (133 W. Lancaster Ave.) from 5-9 pm. Bring in this flyer, show the cashier on your phone, or tell the cashier you're supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds are donated to the FCS girls' basketball team! Thank you for your support.

 

Don't Forget to Order Your Child's School Portraits! 

Click here for instructions on ordering your child(ren)'s School Portraits. The deadline for portrait orders is December 1. If you have any questions, please follow the instructions in the email or contact Mark directly by email.

 

State Tax Credit for Donors, Financial Aid Dollars for FCS
Qualified Pennsylvania businesses can receive up to a 90% tax credit by donating to FCS through the EITC and OSTC programs. Now, through the Friends' Education Equity Collaborative (FEEC), individuals with an income over $200,000 ($300,000 for couples) can receive personal income tax credit. Learn more about these programs here, and contact Kim Emmons-Benjet at 610-645-4499 or kbenjet@friendscentral.org in the Development Office.

 
Image

Students out on the Nursery playground –dressed and ready for fall weather!

Lower School News

Message from Kelly Bird Pierre

Yesterday, we had two board members visit our campus as part of Trustee Visiting Day. After their visit, I asked them over lunch, "What impressions were you left with from your visit to the Lower School?" This is what they shared:

  • Busy, but not frenetic or chaotic. Everyone seemed engaged and often working on several different things within one room. Everyone was able to work at their own pace without feeling like they were in competition with the rest of the class. There were clear expectations around clean-up and transitions. The absence of stress was palpable.
  • We observed that all of the adults knew all of the students with whom they came in contact, and each adult was willing to step in and help any student even if they weren't their own student. I felt an unconditional love here that I have only felt from my grandmother. It is the 2nd happiest place in the world, the first being Disney World
  • I was impressed by the diversity within the student body and among the faculty and staff. Social justice was explicitly being taught at even the Nursery level. Quaker values are everywhere. They are being lived, not taught as a separate lesson or displayed on a bulletin board.

 

Read Kelly's full message, including a wrap-up of Edcamp: Maker Promise and the MS Play Shrek Jr., here.

 

Message from Alexa Quinn for Grade 5 Parents - Update to Middle School Transition Events

In lieu of the grade 5 to 6 Middle School Transition Dinner, originally scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 14, we've heard from many of you that when it comes to understanding what lies ahead in sixth grade, as well as the Middle & Upper School, there is no single event or opportunity that will meet everyone's needs. In that spirit, we are offering several choices to connect with Keino Terrell, Bill Kennedy, myself, and the grade 6 teaching team. We hope that one or more of these offerings will be interesting and helpful to your family. Please read the options below and fill out this form to let us know what you would like to attend.

 

The first info session offering with Alexa, Keino, and Bill takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 8:45 am in MS Room 10. 

 

Don't Miss the MS Play Shrek Jr. - Nov. 17, 7 pm & Nov. 19, 2 pm

Don't miss Shrek Jr., a play about a big ogre who lives alone in a swamp in the woods and is feared by all the people in the land of Duloc. When the ruler of Duloc Lord Farquaad exiles all the fairy-tale creatures to the woods, Shrek loses his peaceful life and his home. He sets out to find Lord Farquaad and convince him to take the fairy-tale creatures back where they belong and leave him alone. Farquaad accepts, but Shrek must find the princess Fiona, who will become Farquaad's bride. So Shrek and his new donkey friend, who seems to never stop talking and cracking jokes, set out on their journey, revealing an important secret held by Princess Fiona and opening up everyone's heart to the magic of true love.

 

Director Julie Gordon shares, "The Middle School Cast & Crew are excited for our upcoming production of Shrek Jr. This is a truly fun and meaningful musical production. Our cast has embraced their roles, and we are excited to present our work to you. Shrek Jr is an all ages show, so bring the entire family, and there's an ice cream social after the matinée in the Rex Cafeteria on Sunday!"

 

Eldernet Basket Collection - We are collecting for Thanksgiving!

Each LS classroom will prepare a basket of food to make up a Thanksgiving meal for a family supported by ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth. If you are interested in being the classroom coordinator for this project, please contact your class rep. Each class will be assigned a specific elder, and they will be contacted by the classroom volunteer coordinator to identify specific wishes and dietary requirements. Look for the baskets outside the classrooms starting next week. Donation items include but are not limited to:

  • Basket (e.g. small plastic laundry basket/wicker basket in which to place food)
  • Turkey, chicken, or ham
  • Vegetable, canned or frozen
  • Starch
  • Dessert

If you have any questions, please contact your parent rep.

 

Grade 4 Parent Gathering 

Next Saturday, Nov. 18, 6-9 pm at the home of Lydia & Scott Hamburg. Click here for the invitation. Please note location change.

 

LETTUCE FEED YOU 

Menu for November 13-17

 

Monday - Coconut vegetable curry stew, jasmine rice, and tossed salad

Tuesday - Chicken & cheese quesadillas and fresh veggies

Wednesday - Pasta bar! Steamed broccoli & tossed salad

Thursday - Chef's Choice Roasted Turkey w gravy, smashed potatoes, string beans, cranberry sauce, and fresh fruit

Friday - Pizza Day!

 

 
Image

On Wednesday, grade 8 students showcased their language skills and fabulous costumes at the Multilingual Fashion Show 2017!

Middle School News

Grade 8 Parent Gathering - Tomorrow, Nov. 11

The Grade 8 Parent Gathering takes place tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 11, 7-8:30 pm in the OPA Room, Main Building. If you haven't yet, please send 2-3 interesting facts about you or your family to Val Riesenfeld to play a fun game! Click here for the SignUp Genius to add to the potluck.

 

Coming Soon! MS Play Shrek Jr. - Nov. 17, 7 pm & Nov. 19, 2 pm

Don't miss the MS Play Shrek Jr., a play about a big ogre who lives alone in a swamp in the woods and is feared by all the people in the land of Duloc. When the ruler of Duloc Lord Farquaad exiles all the fairy-tale creatures to the woods, Shrek loses his peaceful life and his home. So he sets out to find Lord Farquaad and convince him to take the fairy-tale creatures back where they belong and leave him alone. Lord Farquaad accepts, but Shrek must find the princess Fiona, who will become Farquaad's bride. So Shrek and his new donkey friend, who seems to never stop talking and cracking jokes, set out on their journey, revealing an important secret held by Princess Fiona and opening up everyone's heart to the magic of true love.

 

Director Julie Gordon shares, "The Middle School Cast & Crew are excited for our upcoming production of Shrek Jr. This is a truly fun and meaningful musical production. Our cast has embraced their roles, and we are excited to present our work to you. Shrek Jr. is an all ages show, so bring the entire family, and there's an ice cream social after the matinée in the Rex Cafeteria on Sunday!"

 

RSVPs needed for Dec. 1 Grandparents'/Special Friends' Day
If your grandparents/special friends have not received their invitation to the December 1 Visit morning, please contact Matt Cohen. Due to Shallcross Renovations, please have your Grandparents and Friends RSVP by November 20 so we can plan appropriately for the morning.  

 

Save the Date! Free Heart Screening for Middle & Upper School Students - Dec. 3

Friends' Central is partnering with Simon's Fund to offer free heart screening for ALL students in grades 6-12 (FCS and non-FCS students) on Sunday, Dec. 3. Click here to download a flyer with more info.

 

Holiday Cheer Returns - Tuesday, Dec. 5 after school

The HSA Upper & Middle School Service Committee presents the 3rd annual Holiday Cheer! A fantastic service opportunity for MS/US families, holiday cheer takes place after school on Dec. 5. We will host teenagers from the shelter organization Families Forward Philadelphia for holiday cheer. While on campus, our guests will attend the Varsity boys' basketball game or complete a holiday project in the Makerspace, and enjoy stocking stuffing, food, and drink. Each teen will receive a gift card. Please consider volunteering with your MS/US student or donate to the event.

 

To donate towards a $25 Visa gift card, click here. To volunteer for a time slot or to donate items needed, click here. Collection boxes for stocking stuffer items are in the Main Building Lobby & the Middle School. Questions? Contact Wendy Frame. Thank you!

 
Image

Board members observing Terry Guerin's Shakespeare class during Trustee Visit Day on Thursday

Upper School News

Message from the Upper School Office

Though it's never really quiet in the Upper School, this week (nestled between the athletic seasons) has felt academically productive as we move into the second half of the semester. Academics can be fun, as Latin III students showed this week in reenacting a Roman ritual animal sacrifice, complete with togas, music, and an aluminum-foil covered lightning bolt; and the Wearable Art class enjoyed the chance to get off campus for a visit the Philadelphia Craft Show. We were happy to welcome members of the Board of Trustees to classes on Thursday and grateful for their interest in Upper School life. Each week, Dean of Students Tom MacFarlane's weekly calendar note to the community gets longer as the list of activities and opportunities expands. Student leaders are responsible for many of these experiences, such as today's successful blood drive. Thanks to the committee and to all who donated blood and provided baked goods for donors supporting this life-affirming event. Today was particularly busy, as we also experienced the second diversity training session, facilitated by Assistant Head of School Mariama Richards and Dwight Dunston, Coordinator of Equity and Justice Education. The week ends with celebration at tonight's Fall Varsity Athletic Awards for varsity athletes and their families. Congratulations and thanks to all who participated in our fall athletic season! 

 

TONIGHT - US Fall Varsity Athletic Awards Evening 

Parents of Student-Athletes who participated in Fall Varsity sports, please join us for our Athletic Awards Evening tonight, Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 pm in the Meeting Room. Refreshments available afterwards in MS Room 10.  

 

Phoenix Phans - Buy Your FCS Athletic Gear! 

Through a partnership with Wayne Sporting Goods, FCS students, parents, families, and alumni/ae are able to purchase items that feature each team's name ​through ​Friends' Central Online Apparel Store. Team members and fans: choose from a variety of shirts, jackets, sweatpants, hats, ​and duffle bags. All items are customized with your team name. Anyone can go online and order specific clothing to be shipped directly to them. (Note: minimum number of items must be met. Middle/Upper School Athletes and Families: Please check with the respective coach to find out what your team is ordering.)
Basketball

Squash
Swimming
Track and Field
Wrestling

 

College Financial Aid Information Evening - Nov. 15

Friends' Central families are invited to a Financial Aid Information Evening on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7 pm in the Baldwin School Simpson Center. Guest speaker Chris Gruber will address the different types of financial aid. (The event, co-sponsored by area independent schools, is incorrectly printed on the FCS calendar. Please mark your calendars for 11/15.)

 

MANNA Pie Sales are in our midst - YOU should be a part of it!
The student-run Upper School Service Committee is working with MANNA, a Philadelphia non-profit that nourishes seriously ill patients and their families, to sell pies; each pie supports a family in need. Flavors available include: Pumpkin, Apple, Pecan, Sweet Potato, and the famous Sky Pie. Time is running out to buy your MANNA pie. To help us with this initiative, you can buy a pie by clicking here. Online orders are due Nov. 16! If you have any questions, please contact Annie Roberts '18 or Ben Miller '20. Thank you for your support!

 

Join us for HOOPS-MADNESS - Nov. 18, 6-8 pm, Shimada
Help kick off the boys' and girls' Varsity basketball seasons. Featuring: Boys'/Girls' Basketball Scrimmage, 3-point contest, Giveaways, House Band, Cheerleaders, and more! Donations at the Door for Philly Youth Basketball (PYB)

 

College Athletics & Recruitment Evening

Friends' Central parents and students are invited to an evening information session on College Athletics and the Athletic Recruitment Process. Co-sponsored by FCS and other area independent schools, Episcopal Academy is hosting Anthony Azama, the John M. Schael Director of Athletics at Washington University in St. Louis, on Monday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 pm.

 

Save the Date! Free Heart Screening for Middle & Upper School Students - Dec. 3

Friends' Central is partnering with Simon's Fund to offer free heart screening for ALL students in grades 6-12 (FCS and non-FCS students) on Sunday, Dec. 3. Click here to download a flyer with more info. 

 

Ethan Hurwitz '16 Memorial Flash Fundraiser 

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of Ethan's passing. In his honor, we want to raise as much for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as we possibly can! Thank you for your time and consideration. Every penny helps! Donate here.

 

Holiday Cheer Returns - Tuesday, Dec. 5 after school

The HSA Upper & Middle School Service Committee presents the 3rd annual Holiday Cheer! A fantastic service opportunity for MS/US families, holiday cheer takes place after school on Dec. 5. We will host teenagers from the shelter organization Families Forward Philadelphia for holiday cheer. While on campus, our guests will attend the Varsity boys' basketball game or complete a holiday project in the Makerspace, and enjoy stocking stuffing, food, and drink. Each teen will receive a gift card. Please consider volunteering with your MS/US student or donate to the event.


To donate towards a $25 Visa gift card, click here. To volunteer for a time slot or to donate items needed, click here. Collection boxes for stocking stuffer items are in the Main Building Lobby & the Middle School. Questions? Contact Wendy Frame. Thank you!

 

Save the Date: Senior Parent Social - Dec. 7

Join us for a fun social evening on Thursday, Dec. 7, 5:30-7:30 pm, at Tria Rittenhouse, 123 S. 18th Street. Light nibbles/cash bar.

 

SAVE THE DATE

 

Fall Varsity Athletic Awards Evening
Nov. 10 • 7 pm

FCS Diversity Conference
Nov. 11

MS Play Shrek Jr.
Nov. 17 • 7 pm & Nov. 19 • 2 pm

 

Varsity Basketball Hoops Mania

Nov. 18 • 6 pm

 

A Night Out in the Classroom

Nov. 20 • 7 pm

 

Thanksgiving Holiday 

Nov. 22-24

 

MS Boys' & Girls' Basketball Tournament

Nov. 24-25

 

Faculty In-Service Day - No Classes

Nov. 27

 

Giving Tuesday

Nov. 28

 

MS Grandparents'/Special Friends' Day
Dec. 1 • 9 am

 

MS Concert
Dec. 1 • 7 pm

 

Simon's Fund Heart Screening
Dec. 3 • 9 am  


MS/US Holiday Cheer Event
Dec. 5 

 

Gr. 8 to 9 Parent Evening
Dec. 5 • 7 pm

 

Grs. 3-5 Winter Program
Dec. 8 • 9 am

 

US Instrumental Concert
Dec. 8 • 7 pm

 

Hanukkah Begins at Sundown
Dec.12

 

K-Gr. 2 Winter Showcase
Dec. 15 • 9 am

 

US Choral Concert
Dec. 15 • 7 pm

 

COMMUNITY NEWS


You Can Code! Workshop by TechGirlz for Middle School Girls
Saturday, Nov. 11, 9 am-12 pm, Cabrini College, 610 King of Prussia Rd., Radnor
Are you just beginning to code or want to start but are afraid it will be too challenging? In this workshop, students will use Blockly, a drag and drop language to interface with the memory of the computer. Students will also begin to learn to code using real language with CodinGame, a free online program that allows coders at any stage to improve their coding skills.


Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers Holiday Show
Nov. 9-12, Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers and Fine Artists, 3705 Main Street, Philadelphia (Manayunk)
Work by Caroline Maw-Deis will be featured in the Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers and Fine Artists holiday show this weekend. Click here for the flyer.

 

News

Friends' Central Honored with Lower Merion Historic Preservation Award
This fall, Friends' Central and architect Barba + Wheelock were selected for a Lower Merion Township Historic Preservation Award for the School's newly renovated Ulmer Family Light Lab on the Lower School campus. Read more.

 

Leading the Maker Movement – Friends' Central Students Shine at World Maker Faire

Friends' Central continues to remain at the forefront of cutting-edge Maker Education. At the World Maker Faire in NY last month, FCS voices and projects were felt in multiple arenas. Lower & Middle School students and faculty gave a riveting demonstration of their State Fair project and their If the World Were a Village projects, and two Upper School students presented their show-stopping project – the RFiClimb, a wireless rock climbing wall with a scoring system that used RFiD and Bluetooth to show the climber's progress – winning Best in Class and multiple Editors' Awards. Read more.

 

 

Just the FaCtS is published each Friday by the Friends' Central Communications Office.
If you have any feedback or suggestions, feel free to email us at jtf@friendscentral.org.

 
Facebook
 
Instagram
 
Twitter
 
YouTube
 

FRIENDS' CENTRAL SCHOOL

Lower School Campus | 228 Old Gulph Road | Wynnewood, PA 19096 | 610.642.7575

Middle/Upper School Campus | 1101 City Ave. | Wynnewood, PA 19096 | 610.649.7440

Unsubscribe from this eNotice.