Fantastic science projects were on display on Wednesday at the Grade 5 Science Fair, a cross-curricular culminating event for LS science.

Lower School News

Message from Kelly Bird Pierre

Spring is an incredibly busy time in our Lower School, with special projects, plays, and trips in many of the grades. Here are some highlights from the last week, as well as several updates on staffing for the 2018-2019 school year.

I had the great pleasure of joining Grade 5 on their trip to Camp Onas. Camp Onas is a Quaker Camp that features activities like canoeing, archery, and low and high ropes courses and is an important culminating trip for grade 5. The 5th graders engaged in small group trust building exercises and then took on increasingly difficult group challenges on the ground. These prepared them for more individual risk taking on the high ropes courses 10-20 feet up in the air the next morning. It was such an honor to watch them cheer each other on, support each other in moments of panic and celebrate one another as they pushed through their fears. Click here to read Kelly's full message.

Lower School STEAM Open House - June 12 - Current Gr. 1-4 Families - Join Us and Spread the Word!
We are hosting a free Maker Ed activity for current and prospective students entering grades 2-5. Our Lower School STEAM Open House takes place on Tuesday, June 12 from 4-5:30 pm. There will be a choice of hands-on activities taking place in the four Light Lab studios (robotics, aeronautics, Shibori fabric dyeing, and hydroponic gardening) for prospective students in grades 2-5. Current grade 1-4 students and their families are welcome to join us and bring a friend! Register online here. Click here to download a flyer to share.

Farming
If anyone is interested in helping Tr. Tiffany on the farm this summer with weeding, harvesting, planting, or preserving, please email her directly at tborsch@friendscentral.org. She will send a weekly email to those interested, describing the work she will be doing that week. Note, most work times will be early morning or late afternoon and will span Monday-Sunday.

Summer Camp Registration is Open for All Camps!
Check out our Mighty Maker Camp for grades K-4 using the Lower School Light Lab. To learn more, contact Kat Clayton in the Summer Programs office at summerprograms@friendscentral.org or 610-645-5132.

LETTUCE FEED YOU 

Menu for the week of June 4-June 8

Monday, June 4: Grass-fed Sloppy Joes, house-cut fries, salad, fruit

Tuesday, June 5: Turkey taco w/ all the trimmings, veggies, fruit

Wed., June 6: Pasta w/ peas & parmesan, salad, fruit

Thursday, June 7: Italian baked chicken, garlic bread, veggies, fruit

Friday, June 8: Pizza day!

On Tuesday, grade 7 students did a great job presenting their history projects –– for the first time in a "gallery walk format." 

Middle School News

Message from Alexa Quinn

I look forward to seeing eighth grade families at tonight's Showcase at 7 pm in Shallcross Hall. It promises to be a great night of seeing students' individual and collective talents.

Some reminders to all Middle School families for the coming week:  

• We will collect students' ID cards on Wednesday, June 6 in homeroom. Our trial week of using ID cards has gone very well, and we will gather student feedback next week.
• Thursday is Phoenix Game Day -- our all Middle School field day. Students should dress in athletic gear (no flip flops/sandals) and be prepared to be outside for much of the day.
• Students will receive their yearbooks in the afternoon on Thursday.
• On Friday, we will have some time for locker clean out, so students should bring their backpack or a shopping bag to carry their belongings home. Although the allotted time for locker clean out is on Friday, my suggestion is that students plan to empty their lockers earlier in the week.
• Students do not need to bring their iPads to school on Thursday or Friday.
• Please take a look at home for any textbooks, uniforms, or other school supplies that belong to FCS so that your child can return those next week!

Many thanks, and please let us know if you have any questions about the final days of school.

Support 8th graders' Earth Force Project - School Supplies

Eighth graders Jai S. and Daija B. are gathering supplies for the Jay Cooke Elementary School for their Earth Force project. Please see their flyer for a list of supplies they are collecting.

Grade 8 Showcase Recording
Grade 8 parents: this year, the Grade 8 Showcase will be recorded for parents by the Home and School Association. The link to this video will be distributed in the summer to all Grade 8 parents free of charge.

The Annual Fringe Festival of outdoor performance pieces by the Ensemble Theatre class took place on Felsen Common yesterday.

Upper School News

Message from the Upper School Office

And...just like that, it's over. Performance art (the Friends' Central "Fringe Festival" provided by drama students) and smoothies (a final fundraiser courtesy of Service Committee) offered a break from exam review sessions on Thursday morning, and classes ended today: exams are now the only thing standing between Upper School students and summer! To see the schedule, with times and locations, click here. The shuttle from Overbrook train station will be running on an expanded schedule, with extra pick-ups and drop-offs between exams. You will find that schedule here.

Of course, next week is especially important for the Class of 2018, featuring several culminating events (tuck a few tissues in your pockets). Tuesday's Senior Night begins at 6 pm for Seniors and their families; each Senior will be celebrated, Senior Projects will be acknowledged, and the yearbook will be dedicated at this first of several emotional milestones for the graduates and their loved ones. Baccalaureate Meeting for Worship will be held on Friday at 7 pm in Shallcross Hall, and Commencement is at 10 am on Saturday on the graduation terrace. We'll see all members of the Class of 2018 on campus for the required Commencement rehearsal Friday morning at 11 am, and it will be great to have them around for the festive end-of-year picnic that caps the year for all of us that day. Yearbooks will be distributed to the rest of the student body at that time, and we will celebrate a successful conclusion to the year and launching pad for summer!

As students prepare for exam week, we urge them to check out the study tips that have been populating the US announcements this week-and to look forward to some special stress-relieving events: there will be dogs to play with on Monday and fun with bubbles at the end of the day. Many thanks to Student Support Services for their thoughtful care of our students during this time. We are also mindful of our students observing Ramadan during exams, offering a modified exam schedule if it would be helpful to those who are fasting. If your child has not already made arrangements, Tom MacFarlane can help.

Student Study Tips from Rachel Slaughter, US Learning Specialist

Upper School Learning Specialist Rachel Slaughter shares some thoughts for students on Study Tips in advance of Exam Week. A Doctoral Candidate in Cognitive Studies in Reading at Widener University, Rachel recommends Harry Maddox's book How to Make It Stick and Peter Brown's Book Make It Stick: The Science of Learning. Click here to read more about study tips from Rachel.

Spring Break Iceland Trip: Early Registration Final Reminder
We still have 4 open spots for students on the Spring Break Equinox Trip to Iceland, scheduled for March 23-28, 2019. The early registration discount has been extended to June 5. Don't miss out on the trip of a lifetime! This trip is open to all students in Upper School next fall (so that includes our current 8th graders!). Register today at worldstrides.com/signup with trip ID 162177. Questions? Contact Deborah Skapik.

Commencement 2018 Recording
Senior parents: this year, Commencement will be recorded for parents by the Home and School Association. The link to this video will be distributed in the summer to all parents of the Class of 2018.