Friday, November 17, 2017 | Volume IV • Issue 12

All-School News

 

We Look Forward to Seeing You at A Night Out - this Monday, Nov. 20

What a fantastic response to A Night Out in the Classroom! Over 100 community members are registered for this wonderful, community-building event, which takes place this 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; and refreshments. Last chance to register!


Eat Chipotle and 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.

 

Order Your Child's School Portraits By Dec. 1!

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.


Support FCS Swimmers and Simon's Fund this Sunday! 

Over 200 swimmers, including 100 FCS swimmers, are participating in Friends' Central Aquatics' Swim-a-Thon this Sunday! Each year, FCA chooses a charity to support through funds raised at the Swim-a-Thon - a chance for the FCA swimmers to use their strengths to help others. This year, they are supporting Simon's Fund, which brings heart screening to schools in the area. Simon's Fund is offering heart screenings on Friends' Central's campus on Dec. 3! Learn more here. Good luck to all our swimmers!

 

#GivingTuesday for the Friends' Central Fund is coming!
Like many colleges and independent schools, FCS is participating in national #GivingTuesday on Nov. 28. We invite you to make your annual gift to the Friends' Central Fund in the spirit of the day at friendscentral.org/giving, or answer the call from our Phonathon volunteers. We will unlock a matching gift if we get 120 gifts, representing a gift for every FCS faculty member. Phonathon volunteers are welcome to join us on Monday 11/27 between 9 am-6 pm and/or Tuesday 11/28 between 3-8 pm. Contact Sarah Duda at sduda@friendscentral.org to volunteer. Please answer the phone when our volunteers call! #GiveBackGiveThanks


Check Out NEW Items in the FCS School Store - Open on Dec. 1

The School Store will be open on Dec. 1 from 8 am-4 pm. Three new items have arrived from Nike, just in time for the cold weather: a cotton pullover hoodie, a dri-fit hoodie and a 1/4 zip.

 

Parents for Diversity - Volunteer Opportunity

The first Parents for Diversity meeting of the year was filled with energy and great ideas! Whether or not you were able to join us, we invite you to consider taking a leadership role that will help us turn that energy into activities and initiatives. Specifically, we invite you to consider volunteering as a Division Leader: a point person for diversity-related activities and initiatives at the division level. These may be (for example) social activities, reading groups, visits by diverse artists – the possibilities are endless. Community members in your division will contact you with their ideas.  You'll consult with Dwight Dunston on the evaluation and implementation of these ideas and have the fun of helping to bring them to fruition! You'll also help to rally volunteers and attendees for diversity-related events. 

 

Division Leaders will play an important role in engaging the full FCS community in diversity initiatives and will help ensure that each division has a voice at the planning table. Help us harness the energy and turn it into engagement!  Contact Dwight Dunston with questions about the Division Leader role, or to volunteer. Thank you!

-Allessandro, Lisa, Timika

 
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Professional puppeteer Aaron Cromie visited 4a this week to showcase a variety of puppets - many he made himself - and how to bring them to life. The students are making their own puppets, guided by Aaron, as part of their study of puppetry.

Lower School News

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!"

 

Fall Clubs Over-Don't Forget Your Child's Transportation Plans

All Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday Clubs are over for the Fall session. Wednesday's Soccer Club ended this week on 11/15. Friday's Basketball Club ends today. The Winter session will begin in January. Registration coming soon.

 

Nursery, Pre-K, and K Families - Transition to 1st & 2nd Grade Breakfast - Nov. 30
Join Lower School Principal Kelly Pierre on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 8:15 am for our Transition to 1st and 2nd Grade Breakfast. You will learn important information about the transition to 1st and 2nd grade from Lower School faculty members and some of our current first grade parents. Please RSVP to Pat DeSabato at pdesabato@friendscentral.org or 610.642.7575 by Tuesday, Nov. 28.

 

Hurricane Relief - Just $1 from Each Child by Monday

To raise awareness among the children for the residents of Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands after Hurricane Maria, the LS Service Committee is sponsoring a "Run (Walk, Move) for Hurricane Relief" during gym classes on Monday, Nov. 20 and Tuesday, Nov. 21. We are asking families to support the School's effort by sending in a suggested $1 "entry fee" for their athlete. All students will participate in this PE activity regardless of donations received. We have established 1000 laps around the gym as our School goal-counted toward our community goal rather than any individual goal. Monies collected will be added to the UNICEF Halloween collection. If you can, please send in $1 with your child by Monday, Nov. 20. Teachers will hold all fees until the event during gym class. Grade 3 will participate Monday, even though their PE class is another day. Be sure students wear proper footwear on these days. Please direct questions to Sue and Janet.

 

Winter Field Hockey Clinics

FCS is offering field hockey clinics free for FCS students. The clinic is open for girls in grades 5-8 on Mondays in December - Dec. 4, 11, and 18 - and are led by Varsity Field Hockey Coach Rachael Bloemker. The clinics take place from 7-8 pm in the FCS Linton Gym. Register online here.

 

ElderNet Basket Collection - Next week is the final 2 days!

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. Look for the baskets outside the classrooms this 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
  • Vegetables, canned or frozen
  • Starch
  • Dessert

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

 

Lower School Winter Break Camp: Registration Now Open!

Children age 3 to grade 5: join us on the Lower School campus! Our Break programs offer full- and half-day schedules that feature games, sports activities, arts and crafts, and more. For working parents, this program offers a fun, safe environment for your child to spend part of the school vacation! Half- and full-day options are available for: Wednesday, Dec. 20 through Friday, Dec. 22. Find out more here. Register online here.

 

Grade 4 Parent Gathering 

Tomorrow, 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 20-21

 

Monday - Roasted cauliflower soup, grilled cheese, and tossed salad

Taco Tuesday - Grilled fish tacos, seasoned cabbage, pico de gallo, crema

Wednesday - Thanksgiving Holiday

Thursday - Thanksgiving Holiday

Friday - Thanksgiving Holiday


NOTE: Thanksgiving lunch will take place on Thursday, Nov. 30!

 

 
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Join us tonight at 7 pm and Sunday at 2 pm for the fabulous MS play Shrek Jr.! 

Middle School News

Message from Alexa Quinn

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Middle School play this weekend. Students have been working hard to prepare Shrek, Jr., a musical based on the popular movie, and are excited to present it to their families and friends. The show is appropriate for all ages, so please bring younger children or siblings! Sunday afternoon's show (2 pm) will be followed by an ice cream social! Many thanks to director Julie Gordon and technical director C.J. Keller for their work.


During this season when we share our gratitude for all that we have, the Middle School is engaged in an effort to gather supplies for a school in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Escuela Juan Ramon Jiménez is grades 6-8, just like our Middle School, and they lost nearly everything in the school and many of their students' homes to Hurricane Maria. If you have new or lightly used school supplies (see this flyer for specifics), please send them to the Middle School Office. We would like to send the supplies in the next two weeks.


On behalf of the Middle School faculty, please accept our best wishes for a safe, joyful Thanksgiving. We are immensely grateful for the privilege of working with your children each day.

 

This Weekend! 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.  

 

Middle School Concert: Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 pm in Shallcross Hall

Please join us to hear the instrumental and vocal talents of students in our Middle School Chorus, Orchestra, Jazz Band, and iPad Ensemble.

 

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.


Winter Field Hockey Clinics

FCS is offering field hockey clinics free for FCS students. The clinic is open for girls in grades 5-8 on Mondays in December - Dec. 4, 11, and 18 - and are led by Varsity Field Hockey Coach Rachael Bloemker. The clinics take place from 7-8 pm in the FCS Linton Gym. Register online here.

 

Grade 8 to 9 Parent Evening: Tuesday, Dec. 5

Grade 8 parents/guardians are cordially invited to an evening with Upper School administrators and faculty to learn about the Upper School curriculum and program. Please join us for this informative evening on Dec. 5 at 7 pm in the Fannie Cox Center (FCC).

 

Holiday Cheer is Almost Here - Tuesday, Dec. 5, 3-6:30 pm

Come join us! The HSA Upper & Middle School Service is welcoming 30 teenagers for some Holiday Cheer on Dec. 5 after school. Teens from Families Forward Philadelphia will attend a Varsity boys' basketball game or complete a holiday project in the Makerspace. There will be stocking stuffing, food, drink, and a gift card for each FF teen. Please consider volunteering with your child, click here to sign up for a shift.


We would also love donations of travel-size toiletries for boys' & girls' stockings (soap, perfume, shampoo, novelty items, nail polish, Axe products, etc.). Donations can be dropped off in collection boxes in the Main Building Lobby & Middle School Lobby. Due to our community's overwhelming, heartwarming generosity, we only need 6 more $25 gift cards! Transportation is covered! Thank you! Any overage will go towards the cost of the event. To donate online towards a $25 Visa gift card click here. Questions? Contact Wendy Frame.

 
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Students in the History of Architecture class on their field trip this week

Upper School News

Message from the Upper School Office

A lot happened this week, particularly on Wednesday, both on and off campus. Joel Dankoff's History of Architecture class spent the day in Center City visiting Girard College, the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, and the Mormon Temple. Spanish literature students saw Federico Garcia Lorca's Blood Wedding at the Wilma Theater, and the lucky students enrolled in both classes had a particularly stimulating day. On campus, peer mentors and past participants in the Quaker Youth Leadership Conference met with Deborra Sines Pancoe, associate director of the Friends Council on Education; Deborra led a workshop on clerking skills, ones these student leaders will use to strengthen Quaker decision-making practices on campus. The Science Core team studying evolution met to discuss sexual selection in ongoing preparation for the visit of Doug Emlen, Distinguished Scientist, in the spring. Over 50 students participate in one of two weekly sessions, and a large group gathered on Wednesday for snacks, sound effects (in the form of a talented student peacock imitator), and a fascinating look at the mating adaptations of birds. Teacher Anna Schall's slide presentation is here; if you have three spare minutes, we recommend slide 17, a Planet Earth clip of the astounding courtship spectacle of the bird of paradise. "This is so cool," muttered one student particularly taken by a video of polygynous long-tailed widowbirds bouncing repeatedly into the air.

 

On Tuesday afternoon, the Humanities Core Team, preparing for Dr. James Peterson's winter visit, tackled the history of hip-hop, as represented by some background reading from Jeff Chang's 2005 book Can't Stop Won't Stop and a collection of songs released between 1987 and 2011, each chosen and introduced to the group by a core team member. The Core Team is as diverse as its musical tastes, comprising students, teachers and administrators, proving that hip-hop truly offers something for everyone.

 

FCS students are known for their commitment to clubs and activities, but the 36 students involved in our math modeling teams are in a class of their own; they are competing in groups of four in a 36-hour national challenge to solve a complex problem in applied mathematics. The teams should be wrapping up on Saturday just in time for Hoops Mania, hosted at Shimada Athletic Center at 6 pm. We hope you'll join the Quake, our student fan club, for this kickoff to the basketball season and come back on Monday for A Night Out in the Classroom at 7 pm, when you can sample our academic atmosphere for yourselves.

 

MANNA Pie Sales - Record Broken!

Congrats to the student-run US Service Committee in selling a record breaking 168 pies! The previous school record was 166! Thank you to all who helped in their effort by buying pies for MANNA!

 

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. 

 

FCS Student Volunteers & Peter Seidel - The Faces of Easterseals!

Read more about Peter Seidel and FCS Student Volunteers and the long history of the partnership between FCS and Easterseals here.

 

Holiday Cheer is Almost Here - Tuesday, Dec. 5, 3-6:30 pm

Come join us! The HSA Upper & Middle School Service is welcoming 30 teenagers for some Holiday Cheer on Dec. 5 after school. Teens from Families Forward Philadelphia will attend a Varsity boys' basketball game or complete a holiday project in the Makerspace. There will be stocking stuffing, food, drink, and a gift card for each FF teen. Please consider volunteering with your child; click here to sign up for a shift.


We would also love donations of travel-size toiletries for boys' & girls' stockings (soap, perfume, shampoo, novelty items, nail polish, Axe products, etc.). Donations can be dropped off in collection boxes in the Main Building Lobby & Middle School Lobby. Due to our community's overwhelming, heartwarming generosity, we only need 6 more $25 gift cards. Transportation is covered! Thank you! Any overage will go towards the cost of the event. To donate online towards a $25 Visa gift card, click here. Questions? Contact Wendy Frame.

 

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


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


Winter Break
Dec. 20-Jan 2
(No Classes)

 

COMMUNITY NEWS


Chestnut Street Singers warmly invites you to the first concert of their 2017–2018 season: The Northern Wild, Saturday, Nov. 18 at 8 pm, Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill (8855 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia) and Sunday, Nov. 19 at 3 pm, First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia)

News

Friends' Central Honors Outstanding Fall Athletes
To celebrate the end of an exciting fall sports season, on Friday, November 10, fall Varsity coaches presented awards honoring most valuable and most improved players, as well as All-FSL recipients. Read more.

 

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.


 

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.

 
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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

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