Germantown Friends School Viewbook by Germantown Friends School

Praise FOR

GFS

VIEWBOOK

E D U C AT I O N

“ We n e e d m o r e s c h o o l s l i k e G F S t o t e a c h t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n o f y o u n g people the knowledge to improve their lives and the lives of others, and the keen desire to do so.”

LEAH ROSENBERG

GFS Class of 1982

“Ger mantown Friends School is not just a campus filled with buildings. It embodies a community that inspires, supports, and promotes the right ingredients for success.”

MICHELLE MARSHALL

through

Mother of Camila ’16

GERMANTOWN “There is a shared belief in the power and value of education that unites the school community and the families who choose GFS. At every grade level, you find teachers who are passionate about intellectual e x p l o r a t i o n . Yo u s e e a t r u e e x c i t e m e n t a b o u t l e a r n i n g . ”

FAY E S T E A C Y

LIFE

Retired Lower School teacher and current member of the GFS School Committee

GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL

Visit w w w . g e r m a n t o w n f r i e n d s . o r g 2 1 5 . 9 5 1 . 2 3 4 5 | 3 1 We s t C o u l t e r S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 4 4

FRIENDS

SCHOOL

DESIGN BY The Heads of State

through VIEWBOOK

LIFE

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY & MISSION

LOWER SCHOOL

MIDDLE SCHOOL

UPPER SCHOOL

T H E P I L L A R S O F A Q U A K E R E D U C AT I O N

AT H L E T I C S & P H Y S I C A L E D U C AT I O N

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

R E L AT I O N S H I P S , E Q U A L I T Y & C O M M U N I T Y

COLLEGE & BEYOND

LEARNING IS FOR LIFE. This idea is at the heart of Ger mantown Friends School. We v i e w t h e y e a r s f r o m K i n d e r g a r t e n t h r o u g h t w e l f t h grade as just one chapter in a long adventure—a lear ning adventure that is one of the great foundations of life. Our sense of the power and value of education defines o u r d a i l y w o r k . We t e a c h o u r s t u d e n t s t h a t t h e w o r l d i s theirs to experience, to understand, to create—and to change. It’s a lesson they lear n well. So we invite you: come explore.

HISTORY & MISSION

ETHAN In his favorite Spanish classroom

L E AV E

Untold NO STORY

HISTORY & MISSION

WHEN YOU BEGIN WITH THE BELIEF that each person has a unique

inner light, great things can happen. At GFS, we discover and n u r t u r e a m u l t i t u d e o f h i d d e n t a l e n t s . We t e a c h e a c h c h i l d t o s p e a k h i s o r h e r m i n d , a n d m a k e s u r e e v e r y v o i c e i s h e a r d . We b e l i e v e community is built on a foundation of mutual respect.

HISTORY & MISSION

The Ger mantown Friends School mission begins

MISSION

with a commitment to diversity, to our neighborhood and ci ty, an d t o t h e be l i e f t h at ac ade mi c achievement is not in itself enough. We must

GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL IS

guide our students’ gr owth in mind, body and spirit. And we must put our ideas to work in the world.1 This is a les so n o u r st u de nt s t ak e t o h e art — a t G F S

D E D I C AT E D T O R E A C H I N G T H AT O F G O D IN EVERY PERSON. OUR MISSION IS TO

and long after they have graduated.

S E E K T R U T H , C H A L L E N G E T H E I N T E L L E C T, We h a v e d e e p r o o t s i n G e r m a n t o w n . F o r 3 0 0 years, Quakers have worshipped here, and since

HONOR DIFFERENCES, EMBRACE THE

1845, our school has thrived under the care of the Ger mantown Monthly Meeting.

We a r e f o r t u n a t e t o b e p a r t o f t h i s m u l t i c u l t u r a l community. Our neighborhood is fertile ground for lear ning, exchange, and dialogue about history, class, race, and the humanity of all people.

At GFS, our focus is on the now—and on the futur e. But centuries past do matter, and we ar e infor med by tradition. In finding our way forwar d, our long history and clear mission pr ovide a gr eat sour ce of str ength and dir ection.

1 A traditional Quaker saying expr esses this thought beautifully and succinctly: “Let your life speak!”

C I T Y, A N D N U R T U R E E A C H S T U D E N T ’ S M I N D , B O D Y A N D S P I R I T.

FA S T FA C T S

I D E N T I T Y : A Q U A K E R , C O E D U C A T I O N A L D AY S C H O O L , F O U N D E D I N 1 8 4 5 , L O C AT E D I N T H E H I S T O R I C G E R M A N T O W N N E I G H B O R H O O D OF NORTHWEST PHILADELPHIA

CAMPUS: SEVEN ACRES IN THE HEART OF GERMANTOWN, REFLECTING $36 MILLION IN NEW BUILDING OVER TEN YEARS, WITH 14 ACRES O F A T H L E T I C S F I E L D S A M I L E AWAY

DIVERSITY: 34 PERCENT STUDENTS OF COLOR

F I N A N C I A L A I D : AWA R D E D T O 3 2 P E R C E N T O F S T U D E N T S , INCLUDING 13 COMMUNITY SCHOLARS PER YEAR

SCHOOL ENDOWMENT: $29 MILLION

N A T I O N A L M E R I T S C H O L A R S : O N AV E R A G E , 1 0 S T U D E N T S P E R Y E A R A R E R E C O G N I Z E D A S N AT I O N A L M E R I T F I N A L I S T S

M AT R I C U L AT I O N : 1 0 0 P E R C E N T O F G R A D U AT E S AT T E N D FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES

LOWER SCHOOL

LUCA, JORDAN, LEAH, JOSHUA, AND SOPHIE THE BOA CONSTRICTOR Lab experiment day

Little HUMAN

RESOURCES L O W E R S C H O O L – K through 5

WE THINK OF THEM AS YOUNG LEARNERS, but they’re also authors

and illustrators. And mathematical acrobats, agile and inventive. Even scientists—experts on the fossil record, or nithology, and the migration of Pacific salmon. Students in our Lower School are world explorers and time travelers, transporting themselves to China or Africa, Colonial America or Medieval Europe. At GFS, the elementary years are truly wondrous, and we provide our youngest students with every opportunity to make the most of them.

LOWER SCHOOL

Our curriculum is defined by its richness and depth. When our students explore ancient Greece, it is a yearlong experience of immersion. They study politics, commerce, and dramatic arts, and the pottery of early, middle, and late periods. They make Tr ojan horses in woodshop, sew chitons for Gr eek games, and travel to New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Metr opolitan Museum of Art to behold its H el l en i s ti c tr ea s u r es . T h e r es u l t i s a w eb o f mea ni n g f u l connectionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and a sense of mastery.

I t i s th i s s a m e m a s ter y c h i l d r en f i n d i n a r t , as t he y s tu d y M on d r i a n or Pi c a s s o; i n m a th , a s the y l e ar n n ot on l y to s ol v e a p r ob l em th r ou g h a p r e sc r ibe d s et of s tep s , b u t to s ee i t f r om ev er y a n g l e and

ins ide-o u t ; i n S pani sh , as t h e y i mme rse th em s el v es

They ar e nurturing emotional intelligence thr ough

in th e l angu age t h r o u gh l i t e r e at u r e , so n g s , a n d

Feedback, 2 a pr ogram pioneer ed at GFS to pr ovide

gam es; o r i n l angu age art s, as t h e y be c om e a c ti v e

a safe structure for sharing feelings. They are for ming

and cr i t i c al r e ade rs, e qu i ppe d w i t h st ra teg i es to

s p ec i a l c on n ec ti on s th r ou g h ou r Pa r tn er s p r o gr am,

engage e v e r mo r e c h al l e ngi ng w o rk s.

which pairs older students with younger ones. They a r e m em b er s a n d a c ti v e p a r ti c i p a n ts i n w a r m,

GFS of f e rs an ac ade mi c pr o gram t h at i s th or ou g h l y

welcoming classroom communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and an

developmentally appr opriate, highly ambitious, a n d

integral part of the lar ger school community as

well bal anc e d. Mu si c , art , l angu age , t e c h n ol og y ,

well. They ar e lear ning to be peacemakers.

library, and physical education are also substantive par ts of e ac h st u de nt â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s l i fe i n e v e ry gra d e.

The Lower School provides an outstanding preparation

Cocurricular options of fer even mor e opportunities:

for the years ahead. But befor e looking forwar d, it is

to sing in the chorus, to take an instrument, or play

an experience to be cherished in itself.

in the or chestra or world per cussion ensemble; to car e for classr oom animals or join the Math Club.

2 Developed at GFS in the early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s, the Feedback program, which enhances social respect, kindness, and community

Howeve r, si mpl y i t e mi zi ng t h e se o ppo rt u n i ti es fails

cohesion, has been adopted by many schools nationwide.

to captur e the essence of Lower School: the joy. While mastering academic skills, students ar e also making friendships and for ming partnerships.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

LEARNING

Fly TO

M I D D L E S C H O O L – G R A D E S 6 through 8

IT’S TIME TO STEP INTO THE WORLD of abstract thinking—connecting

ideas in new ways. It’s time to leap ahead in maturity—interacting with friends and adults in new, more meaningful ways as well. It’s time to make some of life’s most important discoveries about the kind of person you want to be. Often Middle School is characterized m e r e l y a s t h e t r a n s i t i o n b e t w e e n t h e l o w e r a n d u p p e r g r a d e s . Ye s , Middle School is transitional, but these are thrilling transitions.

B E N , S E Q U O YA H , L E A H , C AT E , A N D C O R I N N E Hanging out in a favorite reading nook

MIDDLE SCHOOL

The GFS Middle School pr ogram immerses students in grades 6-8 in a stimulating and challenging intellectual envir onment. Students explor e works of literatur e connected thematically to each other, and to lessons in history. They take on r esear ch pr ojects working with primary sour ces and master new mathematical challenges, pr eparing for either Algebra or Advanced Algebra in eighth grade. They devise original, envir onmental-based experiments for Science Night 3 or investigate marine biomes ar ound the world—and build extensive websites sharing their work. Along with English, history, math, and science, they now choose to study Fr ench, Spanish, Latin, Gr eek, or Mandarin.

HIGHLIGHTS & TRADITIONS Outside the classr oom, opportunities expand as well. Students take on leadership roles in student gover nment,

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES: REGULAR OFFERINGS,

in or ganizing food drives and community pr ojects, and

INCLUDING GRAFFITI, THE LITERARY MAGAZINE,

in planning dances, and in a n ev er- c h an ging varie t y

A N D C O M M U N I T Y A C T I O N C L U B, P L U S S T U D E N T -

of mi xed - g r a d e clubs and activities—fr om MathCounts

LAUNCHED GROUPS, SUCH AS COOKING, GAMES CLUB, FIBER ARTS, AND SCIENCE CLUB

a n d Ad v en tu r e C l u b to Yea r b ook a n d A C appe l l a. M i d d l e S c h ool er s a l s o p a r ti c i p a te i n g r a d e - wide

C A M P I N G T R I P S : S P E N D I N G T I M E W I T H C L A S S M AT E S ,

a c ti v i ti es f or E X PO , s u c h a s th ea tr e a n d b ushc r af t ,

AWAY F R O M S C H O O L , I S T H E U L T I M A T E B O N D I N G

w i th r eq u i r ed p r og r a m m i n g a n d Q u a ker i sm c o ur se s.

EXPERIENCE AND THE SOURCE OF TREASURED MEMORIES FOR YEARS TO COME

EIGHTH-GRADE MUSICAL: A CHANCE FOR EVERYONE T O TA K E PA R T, W H E T H E R S I N G I N G , D A N C I N G , S E R V I N G AS EMCEE, OR WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES

EXCHANGE PROGRAMS: A MONTH-LONG EXPERIENCE AT S T . G E O R G E ’ S S C H O O L F O R G I R L S I N E D I N B U R G H , SCOTLAND; ONE-WEEK EXPERIENCES WITH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE U.S. THROUGH THE NETWORK OF C O M P L E M E N TA R Y S C H O O L S

Interscholastic sports now become a part of the student experience thr ough a pr ogram that involves and supports athletes at every level.

Middle School is a world of variety and vitality. Every student can find a place to shine her e. At a talent show, Middle Schoolers display abilities ranging fr om Tae Kwon Do to stand-up comedy to virtuoso violin and are greeted with equal enthusiasm. Their awar d-w i n n i n g p u b l i c a t i o n s ( t h e l i t e r a r y magazine Graf fiti and online newspaper The Cor ner), the art they cr eate, and the music they makeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;all ar e infused with ideas and ener gy.

In these years of personal discovery, Middle School at GFS is a gr eat place to find yourself.

3 Science Night continues in Upper School, showcasing increasingly challenging projects, including the investigation of the behavior of ferrofluids, the detection of genetic modification in food using polymerase chain reactions, and the ever-popular, ninth-grade Physics Olympics.

UPPER SCHOOL

Chart YOUR

COURSES

U P P E R S C H O O L – G R A D E S 9 through 1 2

A G F S E D U C AT I O N i s a b o u t e a c h p e r s o n r i s i n g t o m e e t h i s o r h e r

o w n s t a n d a r d s o f e x c e l l e n c e . We d o n ’ t c o m p u t e c l a s s r a n k s o r G PA s , a n d s t u d e n t s d o n ’ t s p e n d t i m e c o m p a r i n g S AT s c o r e s . We d o n ’ t see test results as the primary measure of academic success. In other words, we don’t confuse achievement with competition. But make no mistake—our students do achieve.

C A R M E N , L I V I , M A T T, A N D S I L A S Gathering in the Alumni Building

UPPER SCHOOL

The GFS Upper School is a world of choices. Take Bioethics or The Political and Philosophical Origins of the U.S. Constitution. Study Advanced Physics in the state-of-the-art Wade Science Center 4 , or Ancient Greek in a superb Classics department. In short, our high school students have the opportunity to pursue their talents, passions, and goals. They make their education their own.

The Upper School experience begins with an exceptionally solid college-preparatory curriculum. All GFS students read widely and lear n to write well. All take at least three years of math, plus multiple years of science, history, and a moder n or classical language. And all have the opportunity to do so much more.

In January, the entire Upper School makes room for creative exploration, as well as a change of pace. Juniors embark on Junior Projectsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;monthlong, of f-campus independent studies of their own design, such as exploring sports medicine, timber-frame construction, environmental law, or aerospace engineering. Students in grades 9, 10, and 12 participate in January Ter m (or J-Ter m), a

program that allows them to discover new passions, interests, and collaborative ways of lear ning outside the regular curriculum through a broad of fering of interdisciplinary, project-based “mini courses.”

In the Essentially English program, students in grades 10, 11, and 12 choose special spring electives. They might take American Paradise Lost: The Novels of Philip Roth or Immigrant Poets and Poems of Immigration. They might study screenwriting with a

T H E I M P O R TA N C E O F W R I T I N G AT G F S Before they can spell—before they can even for m letters on the page—GFS students begin to write, dictating their stories to their teachers. By eleventh and twelfth grades, they ar e crafting essays, novellas, poems, scripts, and research papers that show r emarkable confidence and skill.

professional screenwriter, or the art of the novel with a published author. In these seminar-style courses, students are joined by GFS parents and alumni— adult classmates whose voices lend a powerful and dif ferent perspective.

This is not magic. GFS students immerse themselves in gr eat literatur e. And they lear n and practice the art of writing themselves, as it is taught in the best r esear chbased university writing pr ograms. To write well is an invaluable skill. It is also a clear mark of a Ger mantown

In Directed Independent Studies, students team up

Friends School graduate.

with a teacher to create completely original, onecredit courses—artificial intelligence, advanced music composition, and neurobiology, to name just a few. Even more DIS options are available through the Global Online Academy 5 , an online educational initiative involving a circle of highly-regarded independent schools around the world that of fers outstanding semester- and year-long courses, such as Medical Problem Solving, Campaigns and Elections, and French Hip-Hop, to students at member institutions.

No two students leave GFS having traveled the same path. Not even close. What they share is an experience of intellectual challenge and curiosity. They engage in conversations you might hear in upper-level university seminars. They don’t just lear n the process of protein synthesis; they invent their own systems for modeling that process. For those eager not only to lear n but also to invent, this is the place.

4 The award-winning, LEED-certified Wa d e S c i e n c e C e n t e r, c o m p l e t e d i n 2 0 0 9 , is a model of sustainability. 5 A founding member of the GOA, GFS was the only Philadelphia school invited to join the consortium.

T HE

Science

SIMPLICITY

W E E M B R A C E T H E VA L U E S of kindness and simplicity.

We know the power of silent r eflection. We shar e a commitment to practical action; ideas should be put to work in the world, talents dedicated to the gr eater good. These beliefs, at the heart of Ger mantown Friends, all gr ow fr om our identity as a Quaker school.

THE PILLARS OF A

QUA K E R EDUCAT ION

SPEAK THE TRUTH We strive to deal fairly, equally, and honestly with everyone. We aim to do as we say, reflecting our beliefs in our actions. Even when it is inconvenient or challenging, we stand by

The beliefs of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, once made them unwelcome in most of Eur ope. Considering that Friends have no for mal cr eed, cler gy, or chur ch hierar chy, this can seem surprising now. In the 17th century, it was danger ously radical.

our convictions, striving to lead lives of integrity.

SHINE TOGETHER We are all blessed with

In place of orthodoxy, Quakers have a set of testimonies, or ideals, they strive to model in their lives. These include Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and

Stewar dship.*

They also have a unique for m of worship: the Quaker Meeting.

At GFS, students and teachers gather in Meeting for Worship once each week. This is a time for shar ed, silent r eflection. Anyone who feels moved to speak may rise and do so. It is a simple for mula, and can be a r emarkably power ful experience.

r e m a r k a b l e g i f t s . We ar e equally qualified to seek truth and to hear the voice of God. Every person deserves the same r espect. For these reasons, we work agai ns t pr eju di ce

In these days of constant connectivity, the ability and opportunity to sit in silence have special value. Meeting for Worship is a cor nerstone of the GFS cultur e that many come to cherish thr oughout their lives. * We o f t e n u s e t h e a c r o n y m â&#x20AC;&#x153; S P I C E S â&#x20AC;? t o r e m e m b e r t h e s e t e s t i m o n i e s .

and discrimination and for equality.

S TAY CONNECTED

CARE FOR ALL

“Alone we can do little;

This planet we inhabit,

toget he r w e c a n d o so

the talents we’ve been

much.” * We know ther e

given, the community

is strength in cooperation

o f w h i c h w e a r e a part—

and wisdom to be found

all hold remarkable v a l u e .

when many perspectives

We m u s t b e r e s p o n s i b l e ,

are shared and valued.

imaginative, and proactive

We believe in the power

in protecting these

of community.

g i f t s a n d c a r i n g for t he

* The words of Helen Keller.

KEEP IT SIMPLE In every way we can,

u s . We m u s t e x e r c i s e

PROMOTE PEACE

good stewardship.

We believe each life is

wo rld a n d p e o p le a r o un d

we try to minimize the

pr eci ou s and u ni qu e.

d i s t r a ct i o n s t h a t ca n

We stand against war

draw our attention from

and violence and

the important things in

work to eliminate their

life. This means not

r oot causes, including

becoming overwhelmed

i gnorance, raci s m ,

by the busyness of daily

hatred, and oppression.

routine. It means seeking

We are committed to

balance. It means

cr eating peace.

embracing simplicity.

AT H L E T I C S & P H Y S I C A L E D U C AT I O N

HOME

Away OR

AT H L E T I C S & P H Y S I C A L E D U C AT I O N

HARD WORK AND TEAMWORK. These ideals are invoked at

G F S s o o f t e n t h e y â&#x20AC;&#x2122; r e p a r t o f o u r d a i l y p r a c t i c e . Ye t e v e r y t i m e our athletes take the playing field, we breathe fresh meaning i n t o t h e m . We b r i n g t h e b e s t o f o u r s e l v e s t o t h e g a m e . We l e a r n l e s s o n s f o r l i f e . We f e e d t h e f i r e o f T i g e r P r i d e .

G R E T A , T A R Y N , C A L V I N , A N D S A T YA Suited up for competition

FA C I L I T I E S

S C AT T E R G O O D G Y M : H O M E T O VA R S I T Y B A S K E T B A L L , A C L I M B I N G WA L L , A N D T R A I N I N G R O O M ( W I T H T W O F U L L - T I M E AT H L E T I C T R A I N E R S ) SMITH GYM: HISTORIC VENUE FOR WRESTLING, ROPES COURSE, AND INDOOR TRACK, WITH N E W L Y - R E N O VA T E D W E I G H T R O O M A N D F I T N E S S CENTER (SUPERVISED BY FULL-TIME STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH) F I E L D H O U S E : E X PA N S I V E , S TAT E - O F - T H E - A R T I N D O O R P R A C T I C E FA C I L I T Y P L AY I N G F I E L D S : 1 4 A C R E S W I T H P R A C T I C E A N D COMPETITION FIELDS, SIX TENNIS COURTS, A N A L L - W E AT H E R , S I X - L A N E T R A C K , A N D P O L E VA U L T , H I G H J U M P , D I S C U S , A N D J AV E L I N A R E A S S Q U A S H C O U R T S : L O C AT E D AT G E R M A N T O W N CRICKET CLUB, LESS THAN A MILE FROM CAMPUS FA I R M O U N T PA R K : C R O S S - C O U N T R Y T E A M S R U N AT B E L M O N T P L AT E A U , S O F T B A L L P R O G R A M P R A C T I C E S A N D C O M P E T E S AT B L U E B E L L F I E L D

GFS fields approximately 70 teams at the Middle S c h o o l , JV, and Varsity levels. We have a no-cut policy designed to cr eate an inclusive pr ogram and make athletics a positive part of every studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e x p e r i e n c e . We d e m o n s t r a t e a n d d e m a n d exemplary sportsmanship. Our athletes train har d and compete to win.

The Tigers have ear ned 147 titles since 1981, more championships than any of the other schools in the Friends Schools League 5 . We've found success beyond the league as well: Our graduates compete at the college level in every sport we of fer, with mor e than 60 now active in Division I, II, and III pr ograms.

The point is not that all of our athletes excel, but that every athlete has that opportunity. Just as important, every student has the chance to be an athlete, to be part of a team, and to discover a love for physical activity.

Students also make this discovery thr ough our

Physical Education program, an important part of the K-12 curriculum. In the early grades, new games

each week intr oduce and build key motor skills. By Middle and Upper School, options include rock climbing, str ength training, ar chery, fencing, yoga, and dance. At every level, the philosophy is the same: to pr epar e students for active and healthy lives.

6 GFS has won multiple state championships in boys and girls cross country, and is proud to claim several nationally-ranked runners in track events. We â&#x20AC;&#x2122; v e p l a c e d a s h i g h a s f i f t h a t U . S . N a t i o n a l s in squash, and have had one baseball pitcher honored as a Phillies #1 draft pick.

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

STRENGTH

Wonders IN

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

THE EVIDENCE IS EVERYWHERE: Corridors that vibrate with color

and echo with African drums. Stages brought to life almost daily with performances, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kindergartners singing before an assembly or Upper Schoolers staging Ibsen. In these and many other ways, GFS is a school profoundly alive with the energy of the arts.

JACKSON, GUSTON, AND CALEB Jam session

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

The vibrancy of our arts pr ogram is har d to miss. Spend five minutes at the annual spring All-School Ar t Show , w h e n t h e c ampu s i s t ransfo r m ed i n to one giant gal l e ry , and y o u â&#x20AC;&#x2122; l l l e av e i nsp i r ed to paint, sculpt something, or tell a tale in claymation.

Les s imme di at e l y appar e nt i s t h e su bsta n c e beh i nd t h i s v i v i d di spl ay o f c r e at i v i t y . I n th e Lower, Mi ddl e , and U ppe r S c h o o l s, and i n v i s ual art , drama, and mu si c , G F S o f fe r s a r i c h ,

rigorous c u r r i c u l u m . T h r ea d s of a r t h i s tor y and music th eory weave thr ough classes in the earliest grades, while in later years, students explor e advanced electives and embrace ambitious artistic challenges.

The choir tours inter nationally. GFS A Cappella hosts A Cappella Fest each February, when singing gr oups fr om peer schools come to per for m their best numbers. The theatr e pr ogram takes on moder n masterworks fr om ar ound the world along with classic musicals like Guys and Dolls and 1776. Studio artists assemble portfolios of impr essive accomplishment.

T h e sc h o o l â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s fac i l i t i e s su ppo rt t h i s t o p - c a l i b er pr ogram: spacious, light-filled studios, numer ous pr ac t i c e r o o ms, a mai nst age t h e at e r w i th p r ofe ssio nal quality lighting and sound.

The str ength of the GFS arts pr ogram is not only th at i t al l o w s st u de nt s o f t al e nt t o go f a r, b u t that it involves all of our students in meaningful ways. Cr eativity and per for mance ar e woven into our culture. We realize that not every student will go on to be an artist. (Yet, in a sense, that is exactly what we hope will happen.)

To launch an endeavor with an unknown r esult and persist until you have made something of valueâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;sur ely this is a life skill worth having. To think cr eatively, expr ess yourself joyously, and appr eciate beautiful works by othersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; th ese ar e abi l i t i e s e sse nt i al t o t h e h um a n , and the GFS, experience.

R E L AT I O N S H I P S , E Q U A L I T Y & C O M M U N I T Y

LIAM AND AIDAN, TWINS Downtime in a Middle School science room

Friends ARE

FA M I LY

R E L AT I O N S H I P S , E Q U A L I T Y & C O M M U N I T Y

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A SIMPLE TRUTH: GFS students call most teachers by their

first names. Some new to the practice assume this signals a lack of respect, but that is not the case. In fact, the practice reflects a profound and mutual respect that shapes and enriches every aspect of life at our school.

R E L AT I O N S H I P S , E Q U A L I T Y & C O M M U N I T Y

If you ask our graduates their best memories of their years here, the most common answer is the close bonds with faculty. This is not just nostalgia; it’s a description of friendships that are often still vibrant many years after students have graduated.

Come play guitar in the woodshop during your free period. Come join our independent study on Ulysses. Come to Rehoboth Beach and plant Ammophila breviligulata as part of a dune restoration project for Science Night. These and dozens of other unique invitations and opportunities for students and faculty to share in activities both inside and outside the classroom reflect the degree to which our teachers know and care for our students.

Ger mantown Friends School is a family—extended and inclusive. We’ve led the way among independent schools in creating a community diverse in religion, race, sexual orientation, and

FA C U LT Y FA C T S

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FA C U L T Y - T O - S T U D E N T R AT I O

N U M B E R O F F U L L - T I M E FA C U L T Y M E M B E R S

P E R C E N TA G E O F FA C U L T Y W H O H O L D A D VA N C E D D E G R E E S

AV E R A G E Y E A R S O F T E A C H I N G E X P E R I E N C E

P E R C E N TA G E O F FA C U L T Y A N D S TA F F O F C O L O R

P E R C E N TA G E O F FA C U L T Y A N D S TA F F WHO ARE QUAKER

N U M B E R O F FA C U L T Y A N D S TA F F W H O A R E A L U M N I

socioeconomic status. One historic cor nerstone of our commitment is the Community Scholars Program. Launched in 1963 in response to the Bir mingham church bombing, this fund has brought low-income students from our neighborhood to GFS for more than 50 years.

Thr ough community involvement pr ojects, envir onmental action, and institutional partnerships, GFS is connected with and committed to Ger mantown and Philadelphia. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a remarkable place: the site of a Revolutionary War battle and temporary White House, 7 and home to unique businesses and dynamic or ganizations. Fr om their first days her e, our students know they ar e part of a familyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and that Ger mantown is our home. Seeing life through the lens of the neighborhood, they gr ow in compassion and independence, and come of age as outwar d-looking people, eager to take their education into the world.

7 The Deshler-Morris House, where Geor ge Washington took refuge during the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793.

COLLEGE & BEYOND

SCHUYLER Looking toward the future

TA K E M E T O YOUR

Leaders COLLEGE & BEYOND

T H R O U G H O U T T H E I R Y E A R S AT G F S , o u r s t u d e n t s a r e c h a l l e n g e d

to think in original ways. They are given many opportunities to lead. They are encouraged to step outside prescribed pathways and make their own choices. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise, then, that our graduates do so many inventive and impressive things in life. Some habits are hard to break.

COLLEGE & ALUMNI

T h er e a r e w r i ter s of ev er y ki n d , i n c l u d i n g b es t- s el l i n g n ov el i s ts a n d j ou r n a l i s ts p u b l i s h ing in The New York T imes, The Atlantic, The Wall Str eet Jour nal, and Slate. Ther e ar e medical and scientific r esear chers: geneticists at CHOP and Johns Hopkins, a Ya l e c om p u ter s c i en ti s t w h o w on a M a c Ar t hur Fellowship, two Nobel Prize winners in Physics.

C l ea r l y , m a n y f a c tor s c on tr i b u te to a c h i ev eme nt a t th i s l ev el , b eg i n n i n g w i th s ki l l a n d d r i v e. But i t’s m or e th a n th a t. At G F S , w e d ev el op i n d i vidual talents, and instill in our students the belief that they The GFS college matriculation list of fers good

can achieve anything. We allow them the opportunity

shorthand evidence of the school’s quality.

to gr ow, to step forwar d as leaders, a nd to f i nd t he ir

Our graduates ar e r epr esented in exceptional

ow n w a y . As a r es u l t, ou r graduates have the

numbers at the nation’s most selective colleges

cr eativity and confidence to write their own

and un i v e rsi t i e s. Wh e n t h e y r e t u r n t o v i s i t

definitions of success.

campus, they consistently r eport they’ve been mor e than well pr epar ed for life beyond GFS.

After c o l l e ge , o u r al u mni fo l l o w t h e ma n y avenues into business and other pr ofessions that you might expect—with some telling tr ends. For instance, a notable number of GFS alumni have pu rs u e d w o rk i n so c i al ju st i c e and e nv ir on m en ta l action: the nationally-known author and activist on bullying, the leading Civil Rights attor ney, the founder of the national advocacy gr oup for gay college athletes, the CEO of an inter national ocean conservation or ganization.

Many graduates gravitate towar ds cr eative careers: the Grammy-winning musicians, the documentary and Hollywood filmmakers and pr oducers, the inter nationally-honor ed ar chitects, the Br oadway actors, composers, and playwrights.

DESIGN BY The Heads of State

Praise FOR

GFS

VIEWBOOK

E D U C AT I O N

LEAH ROSENBERG

GFS Class of 1982

“Ger mantown Friends School is not just a campus filled with buildings. It embodies a community that inspires, supports, and promotes the right ingredients for success.”

MICHELLE MARSHALL

through

Mother of Camila ’16

FAY E S T E A C Y

LIFE

Retired Lower School teacher and current member of the GFS School Committee

GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL

Visit w w w . g e r m a n t o w n f r i e n d s . o r g 2 1 5 . 9 5 1 . 2 3 4 5 | 3 1 We s t C o u l t e r S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 4 4

FRIENDS

SCHOOL