We do so much in Science! We sit in the bird blind and watch the birds. We hike and work in the garden. We also look under microscopes and talk about the animals. Mr. Grove calls us “Duckies.”

Meeting for Worship makes me feel safe. Sometimes I have a hard time being quiet so I play games with my fingers or untie and tie my shoelaces. My teacher says we should try to listen to the sounds inside our bodies.

Recess is so much fun. We have two playgrounds and Bea’s House. The upper playground has bikes and scooters and we built a fort in a big bush. On the lower playground we have a sandbox, a huge wooden jungle gym that looks like a castle, swings, and a wall ball wall that is 4 stories high. We also have two big fields where we play soccer or tag. We play a lot of tag.

I am a school-luncher for the first time this year. I love the stuffed shells, the tacos, and the chocolate cake! We have a moment of silence at every lunch and before snack.

My favorite field trip was to the Mummer’s Museum and the Fabric Workshop—we went to both places on the same day. When my brother was in 1st grade, he went to the Italian Market and learned how to make pasta.

All fourth graders are Book Buddies with a kindergartner. We visit their classroom every week. Sometimes we read with them or do a worksheet. Sometimes we play outside. The younger kids look up to us and we really get to know them. We become friends. At the end of the year we write a book about our time with our book buddies and we give the book to our buddy as a gift. I still have the book I got when I was in kindergarten. And when I see my old book buddy, we high- five each other.

In my fourth grade class we are pen pals with children who go to the U.N. school in New York. And we actually get to meet them when we visit New York on a field trip to the United Nations. It is really interesting because they have lived so many places and can tell us what that is like. And we can tell them what it is like to always live in one place. Another classroom has pen pals at a school in North Philadelphia. They meet for a huge picnic and play day in the park.
It is not hard being a new student at Friends’ Central. When I came to the School I was shy. But it didn’t seem to matter here. The other kids were comfortable with who I was. I didn’t have to try to be something else to fit in. We have two new girls in our class this year, and at the end of their first day my teacher checked in with them to see how they were doing. They told her that they felt good and very welcomed. That made me very happy because I felt I had done my part well, too.

Before you come to Friends’ Central, you should know a little bit about Meeting for Worship, because it is something you don’t do at other schools. Quakers believe that you should keep thoughts in your head about things like peace and truth. They like to share their thoughts without criticizing others. Meeting for Worship is a place to share what is in your heart. Everybody sits quietly and listens to their heart. If you have something to share, you stand up and speak your thoughts. I have spoken in Meeting before. I felt this strong emotion to stand up, but when I did everyone turned their heads towards me and I got embarrassed and forgot what I was going to say. I think you should speak in Meeting on a subject that you are really thinking about, like when Obama became President or if something happens in your family. It really feels good sometimes to speak in Meeting.

Quakers don’t believe in fighting and we have a really good way solve problems at Friends’ Central. It is called ALL STOP. Usually when you get in a fight with someone, you end up just getting into the same argument over and over. You keep fighting because you always think you are right. But we learn special rules that teach us how to listen to each other and to put problems behind us when they are over. ALL STOP teaches a better way to resolve conflicts so that you can end up being friends again. Here’s what it stands for:
A—Ask, “What’s the problem?”
L—Look at each person speaking
L—Listen to everyone’s “I” statements without arguing or interrupting
S—Search for solutions
T—Take responsibility for your part of the problem and the solution
O—Offer to compromise
P—Put it behind you

Friends’ Central is a great school because you get such a good education here. I go home at night and I tell my parents what I learned in science or with something we are studying with the fall theme and my parents just say “Wow!” Every night at dinner they ask my sisters and me what were the high points and low points of our day. I almost never can think of a low point to tell them. But I always have too many high points to tell.

Middle and Upper School Visitors

Once you arrange a visit, the admissions office will match you up with a guide. Your guide is a student your age and your grade and he or she may have similar interests to you. Your guide will be your “buddy” for the day and will introduce you to his/her teachers and friends and be available to answer any questions that you have during the day

You should arrive on campus at 8:15 a.m. and go to the OPA Room in the Wood Building (the old stone building at the top of the entrance loop). An admission officer will greet you and introduce you to your guide. Your guide will take you to his or her homeroom and classes.

At some point, your guide will bring you back to the Wood Building so you can meet with an admission officer. You will talk with the admission officer about FCS, what you are interested in, and what you are doing at school now. You will also be asked to do a writing sample on one of several possible topics. Don’t worry too much–just be relaxed and be yourself!

You should wear comfortable school clothes (we don’t have a uniform) and you will be our guest for lunch.

Your day will end as we are getting ready for our after-school activities. In Middle School this is at 1:50 p.m. and in Upper School it is at 2:30 p.m.

Lower School Visitors

You and your parents should come to the Lower School lobby by 8:30 a.m. Mrs. Harris or Mrs.Ciglinsky from the admission office will take you to your teacher for the day and introduce you to everyone.

You do have to take a short test on reading, writing and math, but don’t worry. It is just to show what you have learned at your school.

You should wear comfortable school clothes (definitely sneakers for gym). If it is snowy, make sure you bring boots and snow pants because we have recess outside every day!

You will be our guest for lunch and can choose from the offerings in the cafeteria

Lower School Visitors (Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten)

You should arrive at the Lower School at 9 a.m. for your Saturday Play Day

You will be assigned to a classroom with other students your age

During the morning, you will probably hear a story, play with the other children, do an arts and crafts activity, and have a snack

While you are there, you will be asked to do some “work” with one of our special teachers who want to see what you can do APPLY NOW to Friends’ Central School