WINTER 2008Drew Smith
Head of School
This fall issue of Salem Quarter News finds Friends School in an exciting place.
- Our student body grew by 17 students.
- Eighth grade students are planning for their required, individual service projects in the second year of this program, and have just led our annual mock United Nations program.
- Friends General Conference held its latest Executive Committee meeting in our library.
- The Parents Association has once again outdone themselves with a spectacular Fall Arts Festival, this year on a weekend when Mullica Hill celebrated Harrison Township Fall Festival, insuring more visitors than ever to our campus.
- Our annual report indicates that the school has raised over $100,000 for the second year in a row.
- And Kindergarten students released another group of monarch butterflies, who should be arriving home in Mexico any day now.
In my mind, the message in all of these examples is that Friends School is not only alive and well, but also gaining strength in delivering our message to an ever-wider group circle in our region. It is also clear that the support of Friends in Salem Quarter have contributed significantly to our success. In each case above, whether it be program design or recruitment, fundraising or outreach, members of Salem Quarter have been directly responsible for both planning and supporting these worthy achievements.
We fully intend to build upon our fine beginning. A number of faculty are involved in a nationwide program to devise programs for students to take advantage of social networking software in the classroom. Ultimately these teachers hope that our students can connect with students throughout the nation and world. We are piloting a fully-staffed, schoolwide religious and spiritual education program. Our hope is to more deliberately teach Quakerism, as well as provide students a safe environment in which to explore their own spiritual and moral roots. I imagine that at some point, both our use of technology and lessons in using our hearts and minds will converge into something wholly new!
Our connection to you in Salem Quarter is one of the most important strengths of the school. As is the case each year, we fully intend to cultivate that strength to improve our offerings to our students and families. I am confident that our Fall 2009 list of achievements will match those with which we began the year in 2008.
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Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 04:02 PM
