friends academy monthly e-letter february 2015 >> …mandela of compassion and speak with our...
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Among Friends
Friends Academy Monthly E-LetterFebruary 2015 >> www.fa.org
Founded 1876
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From the Head – "What do you believe in? Would you be able to articulate those beliefs if asked?" page 2 (By Bill Morris)
Lower School – Design thinking 101 – for faculty and students page 6 (By Debby McLean)
Middle School – All-School Peace Week teaches respect & acceptance. page 8 (By Stephen Rubenacker)
Upper School – Strengthening community character through Peace Week. page 12 (By Deborah Schoman)
>>Visit each divisional section to preview "Don't Miss" February calendar highlights
Development – Annual Fund: See how your class is doing. page 3
2015 Auction – The 23rd FA Dinner & Auction returns to historic Oheka. page 4
Diversity & Multicultural Affairs – The most terrible weapon – the word. page 5 (By Shanelle Robinson)
Sustainability Committee – Talking Sustainability. page 7 (By Dan Kriesberg)
Admissions – 2014-15 Re-enrollment is now online! Due by March 2. page 7
Flik Dining – Who knew chocolate cake could be good for you too? Find out how... page 9
Think.Laugh.Learn. – 12 guides for living that you can share with your kids. page 11 (By John Scardina)
Parent Council – The FA Cookbook is back and will be better than ever! page 13
The Arts – Broadway swings by FA with “Hello Dolly,” our all-school winter musical! page 14
Pix Pick
Lower School students help sweep away the colored sands of the Tibetan Sand Mandala during the Dismantling.AMAnDA FiSk | FRIENDS ACADEMY
DirectoryChanges
if you have a change to your Directory listing, it is important that you notify the appropriate divisional administrative assistant as soon as possible.
CHANGES
n ASHkin, Shari. 233 Linnet Court, Manhasset 11030. Brandon, Gr. 10.
n TSUniS, George and Olga. 246 Piping Rock Road, Matinecock, nY 11560. (H) 516-277-2457. Eleni, Pk and James, Gr. 2.
n WAnG, Yaoming and Yonghong Xiao. 14 Winchester Drive, Muttontown, new York 11545. Sarah, Gr. 6.
Volunteer
for 2015-16 Parent Council!
Executive Vice President
Assistant Treasurer
US, MS or LS Asst. VP
US, MS or LS Secretary
Class representative
Please feel free to nominate yourself or someone else for
any of the positions.
Questions?
E-mail Nominating chair Suzanne McCooey at
Final nominations are due by Friday, March 20
A m o n g F r i e n d sAn informational e-newsletter published monthly for Friends Academy parents, faculty/staff,
trustees, former trustees, and the Alumni Board.
Editor: Andrea Miller – director
of Communications and Marketing Phone: (516) 393-4295
E-mail: [email protected]
Friends Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to
all rights, privileges, programs and activities available to students at the
school. Friends does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion,
gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial assistance program, athletic and
other school-administered programs.
NEXT MONTH'S DEADLINETo include information in the March 2015 electronic issue
of Among Friends please submit information to the
Communications Office by Friday, February 13.
Friends,several weeks ago, a group of seniors was
lamenting that we would never have a snow day this winter. Combined with the voices of
our Lower school stu-dents who never pass me this time of the year without proclaim-ing, “Mr. Morris, snow day, snow day,” i found myself hoping that we would get at least one
storm that would war-rant a snow day. Well,
as the old cliché goes, watch out for what you wish! it seems that the early dismissal/snow day/delayed opening will find a supporting cast before winter ends.
As our just completed Peace Week dem-onstrates, your children are amazing in reflecting about how they can individu-ally and collectively move from thought to moral and ethical action based on our Quaker principles. We were fortunate to have Lama Tenzin Yignyen arrive the week prior to create a Mandela of Compassion and speak with our students about peace. The central image of the Mandela, a beautiful flower, symbol-izes compassion and love, and then the four surrounding images that radiate like the spokes of a wheel represent patience, wisdom, humility, and appreciation or gratitude. The circle of life then surrounds this central motif, so that we understand that compassion and love are brought to fruition through our individual and collective patience, wisdom, humility, and appreciation. We are all spokes in the wheel of life, and we must work to develop the qualities that complete the circle if we hope to bring peace into the world and honor the life of dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the inspiration for our Peace Week.
How can we complete the circle and bring wholeness to ourselves and others? i begin with the words of the dalai Lama, “we can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves,” which i see linked to our Query about identifying and
expressing our core beliefs. Let us explore this linkage by first asking three questions. What do we believe? Why do we believe in those ideals? And, finally and most impor-tantly, why do our beliefs matter? The first question we can answer through a process of thought and reflection, seeking that within ourselves that we aspire to have guide, center, and ground our lives. This first step is not easy, because we need to find the time for silence so that our reflections are probing and arrive at what is truly meaningful. Perhaps what we discover will partake of Lama Tenzin’s Mandela of Compassion, or our Quaker principles, or principles from our own spiritual practice or life philosophy. no matter their source, we must nurture them in a sacred place in our souls.
But nurturing them is not sufficient, as we must consider why we believe and why
does it matter. We can certainly engage in personal reflection and sharing with others to articulate the impor-tance of our beliefs, and i think this is a worthy and necessary endeavor, but unless
we let our lives speak through our ideals, unless we follow the Quaker injunction that service begins when we leave the Meeting House, we will simply be wearing a cloak of our beliefs that covers our hesitancy or unwillingness to act. in the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., “Life’s most urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” i believe that we find ourselves through authentic engagement with others, that we “obtain peace in the world and ourselves” through understandings born of mutual, reciprocal, and interdependent relationships with fam-ily, friends, and strangers who are different. each day at Friends we ask your children to do more than wear the cloak of their beliefs, and i see in their responses the development of compassion, patience, humility, wisdom, and gratitude – the foundations of peace for themselves and others. Let us all join in following this path so peace can truly reign supreme.
Bill MorrisHead of School
Query What do you believe in?
Would you be able to articulate those beliefs if asked?
– Middle School TASQUE
February Query
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UPCOMING ART SHOW
Images of Resistance
Past and Present: An Exhibition
Commemorating Resistance in Belgium, 1940-45
FA WELCOMES PROFESSOR ANN GRIFFIN
Exhibit opening and reception on Friday, March 13th.
READ MORE.
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SUPPORT FA!
Thursday, Sept. 3 new parents Gr. k-5 and all new 5th Gr. students Orientation Schedule – 9:00 am (LS Library) All Gr. 6 students & parents – 9:30 am (Theater) new Gr. 7-8 students & parents – 10:30 am (Theater) All Gr. 9 students & parents – 1:30 to 4:15 pm (Theater) new Gr. 10-12 students & parents – 1:00 to 4:00 pm (Theater)
Tuesday, Sept. 8 First Day of Classes – 8:05 am
Monday, Sept. 14 Rosh Hashanah – no School
Wednesday, Sept. 23 Yom kippur – no School
Monday, Oct. 12 Columbus Day – no School
Wednesday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day – no School
Tuesday, Nov. 24 Thanksgiving Break begins after last commitment
Monday, Nov. 30 Faculty/Staff in-Service Day – no School
Tuesday, Dec. 1 Classes resume at 8:05 am
Friday, Dec. 18 Christmas/Holiday vacation begins after last commitment
Monday, Jan. 4 Classes resume at 8:05 am
Monday, Jan. 18 Martin Luther king, Jr. Birthday Observed – no School
Friday, Feb. 12 Winter Vacation begins after last commitment
Monday, Feb. 22 Faculty/Staff in-Service Day – no School
Tuesday, Feb. 23 Classes resume at 8:05 am
Friday, Mar. 25-28 Easter Recess – no School
Friday, April 22 Spring Vacation begins after last commitment
Monday, May 2 Classes resume at 8:05 am
Monday, May 30 Memorial Day – no School
Sunday, June 5 Baccalaureate Meeting for Worship/Senior Brunch
Tuesday, June 7 Last Day LS Classes ***Full day***
Wednesday, June 8 Fourth Day Honors Last Day MS/US Classes – Dismissal at 1:00 pm
Saturday, June 11 Commencement – 10:00 am
2015-16 School Calendar
The 2015-16 Vacation calendar can also be found on the Parent Information Hub and on the main Calendar page.
Who benefits from the Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund directly benefits our children! These donations help support our educational program,
faculty compensation and the overall uniquness of the Friends Academy experience. Please make your gift today. Your Gift Matters!
See How Your Class ComparesVisit www.fa.org/Participation to view
the latest class participation results.
Thank You for Making a Difference in the Lives of Our Children
From theDevelopmentoffice
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REMINDER!
Deadline for Donations,
Sponsorship and Journal Ads is Monday, March 2th!
Your generosity and willingness to contribute your time and
resources will make our Auction a continued success.
For more information, contact our Auction Chairs:
Phaedra Kazanas Amy Schamroth Allison Weight
Or, visit the website at www.fa.org/auction!
save the date for an “A Celebration with Friends” on Thursday, March 26th at 6:30 p.m.
For the second year in a row, our Friends Academy dinner and Auction will be held at the historic Oheka Castle in Huntington. Please join us for a fabulous evening of fun, great food and good friends! Your support will greatly enhance your children’s experience at Friends Academy.
Help us to achieve our fundraising goals:
Need Auction Forms?Click here for Auction forms www.fa.org/auction.
Would you like to volunteer?Contact Diane Biolsi at [email protected] or 516-629-4859 or sign up online.
• Attend the Auction – Invitation will be in the mail shortly!
• Volunteer for one of our many Committees
• Donate an Item to the Auction. Some ideas may include: Vacation Experiences, Internships, Sports and Recreation, Children’s Activities, Fashion, Dining, Entertainment, Home and Garden and Health & Fitness
• Sponsorship or Underwriting
Opportunities
A Message From the Development Office
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“Of all the weapons of destruction that man could invent, the most terrible – and the most powerful – was the word.”
– PAULO COELHO, AUTHOR
“sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” “i’m rubber, you’re
glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you.”
Many of us are probably familiar with these childhood adages. We can recite them
from memory, and may have even taught them to our own children. in reality, as clever and harm-less as these nursery rhymes may seem to be, these may also be the first lies we’ve
ever been told. These sayings have lasted through the ages but, unfortunately, they couldn’t be any less true. Words do hurt us....always.
As an adult, i can still recall my parents reciting “sticks and stones” to me when i would come home upset about the names i was called by my classmates at school. While i know my parents meant well, the opposite is, in fact, true: words can be very hurtful, and they can make a tremendous impact on a person’s life.
A March 2014 study pub-lished in the JAMA Pediatrics Journal found that children who are bullied and/or cyber-bullied by their peers are three times more likely to consider suicide than children who do not experience bullying. Words have the power to inflict more pain than the biggest stick or the heaviest stone could ever cause. Whereas broken bones can heal, words may leave scars that never seem to go away. some of us have carried pain throughout our lives because of a few words that we have never forgotten.
Author Vashti Quiroz-Vega wrote,
“Words are powerful. Words can shape the future of a child and destroy the existence of an adult. Be careful how you use them because once you have pronounced them, you
cannot remove the scar they leave behind.”
during Peace Week, i facilitated an assembly (co-sponsored with the Anti-defamation League) for our Middle school students focused on anti-bias and anti-bul-lying. The sTeP UP! Assembly
provided a safe forum for our students to speak out about issues of diversity and prej-udice, and increase their awareness of the dynamics of name-calling and bullying. The lesson learned was that words matter, words do hurt, and, if we are not careful, they can have unintended consequences.
There is a passage in the Bible which
(loosely translated) says, “reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” What we say, how we
say it, what we mean by it, affects us and oth-ers’. even Buddha said, “Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influ-
enced by them for good or ill.” My parents did not mean to lie to
me when they told me words wouldn’t (shouldn’t) hurt. instead, i believe they were attempting to teach me not to inter-nalize the negative things people said about me or allow their words to cause me harm. As parents and educators, it is important for us to teach children the truth about the injurious power of words.
Choose words wisely for, “words have longer lives than people” (Mary e. Pearson, author).
Shanelle Robinson
Diversity & Multicultural AffairsShanelle Robinson, Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs | (516) 393-4284
Members of the 2014-15 BRiDGE program, for MS and US students of color (grades 6 through 12), take a “selfie” with filmmaker Andre Robert Lee.
“Words can shape the future of a child and destroy the existence of an adult.”
Save the DateParent Diversity Coffee Monday, March 9 at 8:30 AM ( Jackson House)
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Fri. 7 Dress Down Day
Mon. 9 LS Parent Book Club: “Mindset” – 8:30 a.m. (Lower School Conf. Room) Tues. 10 LS Parent Conference Evening – 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. (LS Classrooms)
Wed. 11 LS Parents Meeting – 8:15 a.m. ( Jackson House)
Thurs. 12 LS Parent Conference Day – No Lower School Classes
Mon. 16 Presidents Day – School and Offices Closed for February Break
Tue. 24 Classes Resume – 8:05 a.m.
Fri. 27 iSE Chess Tournament @ East Woods – 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
What is design thinking? design thinking is a creative process that helps you design mean-
ingful solutions in the classroom, in the workplace and in the community.
This process has been embraced by many schools as a way to promote creative think-ing, team work and student responsibility as well as a way to engage students in real life, meaningful work. The steps of design thinking have been defined as follows.
Empathy: Learning about the audience for whom you are designing.
Define: refining the problem which you are solving.
Ideate: Brain-storming ideas without criticism or inhibition. in this phase, the focus is on
generating lots of ideas with an emphasis on creativity and enjoying the process.
Prototype: in this phase students create quick prototypes to investigate ideas gener-ated during the ideation phase.
Test: students test their ideas in a repeti-tive fashion and determine which aspects of the design are effective and which could be improved.
As a faculty, Lower school teachers have begun to explore design thinking as an outgrowth of sTeAM (science, Technol-ogy, engineering arts and Mathematics.) We tackled the spaghetti and marshmallow challenge in a division meeting in novem-ber (though we did not use food. instead we used wooden dowels and blue putty.) Here you can see a class of fourth grade students undertake the same challenge.
A few teachers and i visited Marymount school in Manhattan in mid-January where we participated in a design challenge and
From the Lower SchoolDebby McLean, Lower School Principal | Divisional Assistant: Gail Lucidi, 393-4230
February Highlights
then toured their design spaces and tinker-ing room. We are excited to host Don Buck-ley in April as he presents a nYsAis design Thinking workshop for teachers. As we continue to grow as learn-ers we will implement some challenges into our classrooms. We will also give children a chance to experiment with materials or tinker.
One of the components of design thinking is creating a prototype and then testing it. This stage brings trial and error which means unsuccessful attempts before a successful one.
We want children to be risk takers and to take a risk necessitates failure. By failing i don’t mean in terms of grades but i mean that something you try does not work. We must value the learning that takes place from the unsuccessful attempts to propel students to the successful one.
The idea of failure once again brings me
Debby McLean
Click Here: Up-to-date Web calendar
Design thinking 101 – for faculty and students
back to Carol Dweck and her research on fixed and growth mindsets. i look forward to hosting my book club on Mindset by dweck this month.
At the beginning of this book she says “...scientists are learning that people have more capac-ity for lifelong learning and brain development than they ever thought. Of course, each person has a unique genetic endowment. People may start with different tem-peraments and different
aptitudes, but it is clear that experience, training and personal effort take them the rest of the way.”
it is our charge as educators to provide that experience and training as well as to cultivate personal effort.
i am proud that at Friends Academy Lower school we are undertaking design thinking in order to ensure our students will be lifelong learners.
One of the components of design thinking is creating a prototype and then testing it. This stage brings trial and error which means unsuccessful attempts before a successful one.
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Sustainability CommitteeDan kriesberg, MS Science teacher; Meghan Stott, LS Science teacher and Brie kraska, LS Math teacher
As parents we learn from each other. We learn more about parenting by sharing ideas with each other.
We get ideas for colleges or how to handle a child who does not complete homework assignments from talking to each other. We listen and learn from these suggestions with the hopes that we will be able to help our children into the future.
it is time to bring environmental sustainability into our conversation about parenting. These issues can no longer be regulated to the sidelines. There should be no embarrassment in speaking out and making changes in how one raises their children. We all gain and our children gain
when we learn to take new actions. When we share ideas and model environmentally sustainable behavior we make it easier for others to join in. it is okay to talk about car-pooling, or share ideas about where to buy locally grown produce; it is okay to work with other parents to limit the amount of party favors and extra stuff at the next celebration.
it is okay to take action.
Talking Sustainabilitywith your children
We need to know your plans for next year!
re-enrollment contracts for current families will be available online in early February via MyBackPack. Please be on the lookout for an e-mail from our office with online re-enrollment informa-tion, which contains the following: re-enrollment Contract, Bus Transportation Form (for your local district), directory request Form (return to Front desk), Medi-cal Forms (uploaded to Magnus), schedule of Charges, information about tuition insurance and tuition payment options.
We ask that you review the material care-fully and have the re-enrollment contract and e-check deposit submitted online no later than March 2nd. The linked forms listed above can be downloaded, completed, and returned as noted on their specific document.
Once again, we have a substantial ap-plicant pool looking to secure places in all
grade levels for next year and we need to confirm the number of openings in each grade by March 1st. Our commitment is always to current families, but we must be respectful of those waiting to hear from our school. re-enrollment contracts impact
admissions decisions; kindly adhere to the deadline. if you do not receive a re-enroll-ment contract by February 15th please contact the admissions office.
As a community we should recognize there are limited financial aid funds avail-able and grants are awarded on a need-basis only. if you are applying for aid, please complete the online form at http://sss.nais.org. This can be completed with your year-end pay stub.
The success and strong interest in our school is due in large part to your sup-port, the enthusiasm of our fine students and faculty, and our exceptional program. Thank you for telling your neighbors and friends about Friends Academy! We look forward to introducing new students and their families to the Friends Academy com-munity.
Most sincerely, Team Admissions
New this year! Online Re-enrollment for 2015-16 (due March 2nd)
Admissions
Upcoming Deadlines
Friday, February 6, 2015n Online financial aid applications completedn W-2 forms due to Friends Academyn Signed Form 4506 due to Friends Academy
Monday, March 2, 2015n Return re-enrollment materials to Admissions to secure spot for 2015-16 school year
Friday, March 6, 2016n Copies of the 2014 tax returns, with all schedules
For more ideas on child-friendly sustainability activities, check out this recent article in Green
Child Magazine.
AMOnG FRiEnDS ~ February 2015 [ 8 ] BACk TO COVER
Click Here: Up-to-date Web calendar
From the Middle School
Congratulations to the entire Friends Academy community for orches-trating the most successful Peace
Week in its’ history. The week culminated in a private viewing
of Selma for grades 7-12. special thanks to Dave Frazer and Danny Seymour for doing a
superb job in prepar-ing our students for a very complex discus-sion around the work of dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement.
The week also was highlighted by a 6th grade trip to the Ho-
locaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove and the anti-bullying workshop sponsored by the Anti-defamation League for the 7th and 8th grades. All of these activities were intended to raise awareness of how we treat one another.
Middle school students tend to be very egocentric individuals, and often are not aware of how their actions impact others. While we hold our students to the highest of standards, we also understand that devel-oping empathy, tolerance and patience are traits that students need to develop in their middle school years. These lessons often involve mistakes, appropriate consequences as a result of those mistakes and timely con-versations to take students through those experiences.
As a faculty, we pride ourselves on our willingness to engage in these situations as they occur. We understand that mistakes can happen, but how we learn from those mistakes and work to rectify those behav-iors is the ultimate measure of how we should gauge each of these lessons.
Robotics Club hauls in honor with innovative coding project
A special kudos to all of our students who
StephenRubenacker
Stephen Rubenacker, Middle School Principal | Divisional Assistant: Marian Tobia, 393-4239
participated in the recent Lego robotics competition at Central islip High school. Led by Clare Nesfield, the “cognitive Quak-ers,” Ben and Alan Cooper, Danielle Kelly, Griffyn Kang, Liam Jachetta, Taye Holder, Mi-chael Sensale, Luke Jennings, Robert Ward, Zack Ragazino, Zara Ward and Anastasia Ka-zanas (fifth grade) orchestrated a wonderful project: The development of a special pair of gloves that can interact with a keyboard to help improve keyboarding skills. The students used sCrATCH to program this invention, and worked collaboratively to
develop their idea and the presentation that followed.
in addition, our students performed extraordinarily well programming their “bots” to perform all sorts of challenges. The group will advance to the Long island Championship in March. Congratula-tions!
8th grade Frost Valley parent info session: Feb. 9th
The recent weather has served as a pleas-ant reminder that the 8th grade trip to
February HighlightsFri. 6 LS/MS Learning Services Coffee – 8:15 a.m. ( Jackson House)
Mon. 9 8th Grade Parent Coffee ***Rescheduled from 1/27*** – 8:30 a.m. ( JH) Agenda: Frost Valley Trip
Thurs. 12 MS Parents Meeting – 8:15 a.m. ( Jackson House) All Parents Welcome! 6th Grade Science Share – 7:30 p.m. (Commons)
Mon. 16 Presidents Day – School and Offices Closed for February Break
Tues. 25 8th Grade trip to Frost Valley (returns Thursday)
Ahead in MarchSat. 21 Middle School Ski Trip to Frost Valley
All-School Peace Week teaches respect & acceptance
The Middle School Robotics team problem-solve a challenge with their “bot” in the Lego League competition.
STEVE RUBEnACkER
FRIENDS ACADEMY
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Frost Valley is coming! Please note that the day of our parent information coffee has been rescheduled to Monday, February 9th at 8:30 a.m. in the Jackson House. There will likely be plenty of snow for the fun outdoor challenges – cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, tubing and snow sculpting. This is a terrific opportunity to further unify the class as they must problem-solve various tasks such as figur-ing out how to build the best catapult and sharpening their square dancing techniques. This class returns to school with the added confidence in their leadership ability and it paves the way for a smooth second and final semester for the 8th grade.
DINING PROGRAM
Meet Your New
Director of Dining Services!
JODI RESNICK
Eat. Learn. Live. A mantra for a better life!
http://www.myschooldining.com/falv
February LS snacksFebruary LS menus
February MS/US menus
Ingredients:1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips1 (19 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained4 eggs3/4 cup white sugar½ teaspoon baking powder
Method:1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
3. Place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 20 seconds after the first minute, until chocolate is melted and smooth.
4. Combine the beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor, Process until smooth.
5. Add the sugar and the baking pow-der, and pulse to blend.
6. Pour in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed.
7. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
8. Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners’ sugar just before serving.
From Our Kitchen to Yours
Due to Winter Storm Juno, 3000 potential units were lost from cancelled drives. NY Blood Blood Centers need FA’s help.
WHENWednesday, Feb. 4th
8:15 a.m to 12:45 p.m.
WHEREMain Gym
DONOR INFORMATIONDonors must be 16 years old and at least 110 lbs. Please eat and
hydrate before giving.
This will be the final FA Blood Drive for 2014-2015.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4TH
FA Blood Drive
First semester grades and comments online
By this time, you should have had the opportunity to review your child’s semester grades and comments on the MyBackpack system. A reminder that these grades reflected student works since the beginning of the year. From this point forward, your child should consider the beginning of this semester as a “clean slate.” A good time to reestablish goals and put forward their best
effort for the remainder of the year.
MS Ski trip rescheduled to Mar. 21stFinally, the second ski trip has been
rescheduled for saturday, March 21st. Be sure to have your child return the form and check to the middle school office. it is also very helpful if you can help your child choose a partner who is at the same level of ability. if you are having difficulty doing this, give us a call.
Garbanzo Bean Chocolate CakeWho knew that chocolate cake could taste great and be good for you too!
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It’s time to THINK SUMMER!! “Spend the SUMMER with FRIENDS”
Secure your spot for 2015!! Spaces fill up
FAST!!
WE OFFER OVER 30 PROGRAM CHOICES (ages 2-15yrs) JUNIOR CAMP (2-5yrs) INTERMEDIATE CAMP (6-7yrs) BASEBALL CAMP STEM CAMP BASKETBALL CAMP CSI CAMP BOYS LACROSSE MARINE SCIENCE GIRLS LACROSSE DANCE SCHOOL SOCCER CAMP GEOCACHING CAMP NFL FLAG FOOTBALL DIGITAL STORYTELLING ICE SKATING ROBOTICS CAMP TENNIS CAMP MIND CRAFT/GAME DESIGN GOLF CAMP ART STUDIO DESIGN GYMNASTICS CHESS CAMP HORSEBACK RIDING WOODWORKING SAILING CAMP BAKING SCHOOL MULTI-SPORT CAMP TRAVEL CAMP TRACK/SPEED & AGILITY ACADEMIC PROGRAM DODGEBALL CAMP SWIM CLUB
NEW-Spring into Summer Programs!! (Visit parent info on our camp website for details)
Spring Tennis (5-15yrs) May (Sat.) Clinics and June Camps. Spring Golf (8-13yrs) 3-day Camps in June. Active Games (5-12yrs) 3-day Camps in June. Spring Travel (11-16yrs) 3-day/2-night trips in June
For information on all our programs please visit our
website at WWW.FASUMMERCAMP.ORG
or call our Camp Office: (516) 393-4207
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1. Makeagoodefforttobecalmandfairwhendealingwithconflicts. even impossible situations can have peaceful solutions.2.Honestyiseverything, and your
integrity is priceless. 3.Humilityisnotanactofdefeat but
an act of triumph: you have chosen a greater truth over your own limited self.4.Whenyouare
wrong, promptly admit it and make amends.5. Learnfromev-
eryone, not just the “experts.” Try to learn something new every day.6.Knowthedifferencebetween“I
want”and“Ineed” and act accordingly.7.Dealwithpeopleinauthority with
respect: if you need to state your truth, then begin from a place of mutual respect and common ground.8.Expectthebestfromothers: they
may surprise you!9.Intoughsituations humor and sur-
prise can help.10.Takecareofoneanother: the only
spiritual practice we need is loving kind-ness.11.LoveyourMotherEarth and make an
effort every day to better this planet. 12.Thereissomethinggreaterthan
ourselves running this universe, and we do best when we take care of the things we can take care of and leave the rest to the universe.
And we might just practice these our-selves, too!
Want to explore this discussion more?
Join John at his next Breakfast with Teacher John this Thursday at 8:15 a.m. in the
Frost Hall Conference Room. Bring breafast, coffee and your thoughts!
Think. Laugh. Learn.
Twelve Guides for Living You Might Share With Your Kids in 2015
John Scardina, Quaker-in-Residence, [email protected]
Calendar of EventsWinter/Spring 2015
The Parent Quaker Life Committee
Attend a Parent Quaker Life Committee Meeting
Every first Wednesday of the month, join other parents to listen to speakers and share ideas about the impact of Quaker education.
Wednesdays at 1:45 p.m. Matinecock Hospitality Room (located next to the Meeting House)
February 5, March 4, April 1 May 6 and June 3
For more information, contact co-clerk Lauren Menzin at [email protected].
Quaker-In-Residence John ScardinaSrping Parenting Workshop
“Ten Good Ways to Undermine Your Child’s Quaker Education”
Monday, Mar. 2, 8:30 a.m. at Jackson House
Family Community Service Saturdays
Join us for the final Sandwich Making project of the school year in the Dolan Center Commons at 10 a.m.
***Change from Glossy Calendar*** Saturday, March 21 at 10 a.m.
(Bring two loaves of white bread and pound of lunchmeat or cheese.
Donations will be given to Part of the Solution in the Bronx.)
John Scardina
BACk TO COVER AMOnG FRiEnDS ~ February 2015 [ 12 ]
Click Here: Up-to-date Web calendar
February HighlightsWed. 4 Grade 9 & 10 Academic Pathways Discussion for Parents – 7:30 p.m. (Band Room)
Thurs. 5 to Upper School Theater Production: “Hello Dolly” – 7:30 p.m. (Theater)Sat. 7 **The Art Exhibit has been rescheduled to Fri. March 13**
Fri. 6 Dress Down Day
Sat. 7 SSAT @ FA – 8:30 a.m. ACT – Local Test Centers
Mon. 9 Gap Year Fair & Summer Programs – 7 p.m. (Theater) **Rescheduled from Glossy Calendar**
Tues. 10 Upper School Parents Meeting – 8:15 a.m. ( Jackson House)
Mon. 16 Presidents Day – School and Offices Closed for February Break
Mon. 23 No Classes – Faculty In-Service Day
Tues. 24 Classes Resume – 8:05 a.m.
Fri. 25 9th Grade Parent Coffee – 8:30 a.m. ( Jackson House)
Ahead in March
Mar. 6 10th Grade Parent Coffee – 8:30 a.m. ( Jackson House)
Mar. 13 Upper School Mid- Semester 2 Ends
Mar. 25 11th Grade Parent Coffee – 8:30 a.m. ( Jackson House)
From the Upper School
As i reflect back on Peace Week 2015 and our continued work with the Harvard school of education Mak-
ing Caring Common (MCC) project, i am reminded by the many ways we already ad-
dress the importance of building a school culture around grow-ing caring, empathetic students.
included in the Peace Week schedule were opportunities
for students to gather in Community Groups and with Worship Buddies and together continue to build a caring relationship with each other through activities that allowed for discussion, reflec-tion and service.
As i engaged in these multi-age activities with the Upper school, Middle and Lower school students, i observed the values we believe are essential for our children to embrace as members of our Quaker com-munity – the patience and kindness shown by the older kids toward their younger peers. Taking the time to get to know each other better, practicing mindfulness, and working side by side making sandwiches for the hungry represent our commitment to the values our school reflects in its mission and philosophy.
58% of FA students believe they feel obligated to care about others
in the recent Harvard school of educa-tion survey our students took in grades 6-12, a remarkable 95% of our students were able to clearly articulate our mis-sion and 87% of the students reported that these core values often influence the way in which they act at school. As Rick Weiss-bourd, director of the MCC project, writes
Strengthening community character through
Peace Week
Deborah Schoman, Upper School Principal | Divisional Assistant: Cathy Philipakos, 393-4215
Deborah Schoman
in his book “the Parents We Mean to Be,” the child’s development of the core value around caring for others has an impact on their future well-being and their ability to become caring, ethical family members and citizens. should kids feel obligated to care about the well-being of people they don’t know?
The FA student survey revealed that 58% believe they should feel very or somewhat obligated to care about others (leaving 42%
to believe otherwise). in a recent report entitled, “The Children We Mean to raise: The real Messages Adults Are sending About Values,” Weissbourd writes, “Chil-dren and youth need ongoing opportuni-ties to practice caring and helpfulness, sometimes with guidance from adults. Children are not simply born good or bad and we should never give up on them. A good person is something one can always become; throughout life we can develop
AMOnG FRiEnDS ~ February 2015 [ 12 ] BACk TO COVER AMOnG FRiEnDS ~ February 2015 [ 13 ]
our capacities for caring and fairness as well as many other social, emotional, and ethical capacities. Learning to be caring and to lead an ethical life is like learning to play an instrument or hone a craft. daily repetition – whether it’s helping a friend with homework, pitch-ing in around the house, having a class-room job, or working on a project on homelessness – and increasing challenge make caring second nature and develop and hone youth’s caregiving capacities. With guidance from adults and practice, young people can also develop the skills and courage to know when and how to intervene in situations when they and others are imperiled. They can become effective “upstanders” or “first respond-ers.”
MCC recently released a parent survey to administer to our community that was e-mailed to all Middle and Up-per school parents. i ask that you take 15 minutes to respond to the questions.
The data from this survey will round out the data already gathered from the students and teachers in grades 6-12. i look forward to continuing our relation-ship with the Caring schools initiative at Harvard school of education as the work that rick Weissbourd and his staff are doing to help schools strengthen the abilities of parents and teachers to develop caring and ethical children.
Parent CouncilThe FA Cookbook is back and will be better than ever!
it’s been eight years since the launch of the original “Cooking with Friends” and, due to its previous success, we are
announcing a brand new take on a Friends’ favorite. “At the Table with Friends” will include hundreds of recipes from the first edition and we hope to add hundreds more from our current Friends family.
The past success of our cookbook was only possible thanks to our Friends com-munity of parents, children, grandparents, faculty, staff, alumni and extended family. We want to reach out to you once again to submit your favorite recipes from the sim-plest everyday meal to a gourmet feast…we need all kinds! some classic categories included are Appetizers & Tapas, savory soups & salads, Meats, Poultry & sea-food, and delectable desserts and we are updating our pages with new categories such as Gluten Free and Vegan. There is no limit on how many recipes you may
submit. For those of you who par-ticipated in the first Friends cookbook, please submit only new recipes for this one. in addition, we would like Ls and Ms students to submit illustrations to grace the recipe pages of this exciting
new version. Together we can make this a cookbook
to keep and share with our loved ones for many years to come. You can submit your recipes on line at typensave.com. The group log in is “Friendscooks” and the contributor password is: thyme108. The deadline for all submissions is March 13th.
Marsia Kim, who was involved with the last edition of our cookbook, is chairing this one. if you are interested in helping with the organization, editing, and distri-bution, please contact Marsia at [email protected].
We look forward to receiving your favor-
ite recipes, and please look out for an email to follow shortly with more details on how you can be a part of the newest Friends cookbook!
February 23rd is Parent Council’s Faculty and staff Appreciation Luncheon. This is our time to say a big “thank you” to everyone at school we entrust our chil-dren to each day of the week. Thank you to Lynne Koufakis for chairing this event. Lynne is looking for donations for dessert so please contact her at [email protected] if you can contribute any baked goods or if you would like to help out the day of the luncheon.
even though 2015 is young, Parent Council has started planning for the 2015-16 school year. Suzanne McCooey, Parent Council nominating Chair, and her com-mittee have begun the process of filling the various positions in Parent Council for next year.
if you are interested in serving on the executive Board, be a class rep, chair a Par-ent Council event listed in the back of the directory or would like to nominate some-one you think would be great in any ones of those positions, please email Suzanne at [email protected]. Being involved in your children’s school is extremely ful-filling and shows your children that you have an interest in their school day lives. do it for yourself, and do it for your kids.
VOLUNTEER!Click here to volunteer for
2015-16 Parent Council officer, class rep and PC
committees.
Parent Council Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon
February 23rd
A chance to show our thanks.
Dessert donations needed…any type of baked good. Please email Lynne Koufakis at [email protected]
As part of the Making Caring Common project with the Harvard Graduate School of Education, we
are asking for MS and US parentparticipation. Completely anonymous and optional, you can skip any question that you do not
want to answer.
Please complete the survey by Friday, February 13.
MAKING CARING COMMON
The ParentSurvey
