Promise Realized

Friends Academy has always been about promise.

In 1876, Gideon Frost founded Friends Academy on the essential Quaker belief in promise:

• The singular, intrinsic, and remarkable promise within each person

• Education’s life-defining promise, fostering students’ growth into their best and highest selves

• The promise of working together to leave the world better than we found it

Our Mission & Belief

Guided by our Quaker principles, Friends Academy educates our students to discover and develop the best of who they are and who they can become.

We achieve educational excellence by committing to the highest standards of learning and living.

Our diverse and welcoming community is strengthened by our Quaker values, which empower our students to inquire, reflect, and engage in their classrooms, in their neighborhoods, and in the world.

Because when we inspire students to learn and live with purpose, they achieve greatness without sacrificing goodness.

Academic Identity

We realize promise by delivering a truly distinctive, life-defining education.

Lighting the Way

Teach through elements of Quaker practice

 Interactive Quaker Education guide for all colleagues.

Add faculty professional development partnerships

 Global Online Academy

 NeuroLeadership Institute

 Facing History & Ourselves

 Understanding by Design

 Korda Institute

 Augmented Reality (ASC International School Cobham)

Our Most Valuable Resource

Add new positions, create more faculty leadership and mentoring

 Dean of Faculty Mentoring

 Dean of Innovation

 Innovative Educator

 Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

 Reggio Emilia Specialist

 Additional EC-12 Psychologist

 LS/MS Student Life Deans

 Director of HR

Enhance teacher evaluation and professional development model

 Teacher Support Program

 Teacher Growth Program, to be launched Fall 2023

Expand hiring practices to recruit and retain diverse educators

 Launched Sustainable Practices Hiring & Retention Committee

 Appointed Dean of Faculty Mentoring

 Created HR Recruitment and Retention Guidelines

Mitigate the challenge of living on Long Island

 Launched new FA Careers webpage

 Offered new benefits options

 Implemented wellness program

 Added optional benefit program

Speaking Our Truth

Adopted new Mission Statement

 Created combined Mission Statement/Belief Statement

Develop creative ways to communicate our identity and mission

 Annual K-12 Belonging Day

 Annual branding workshop for all new colleagues

 Videos that illustrate our Quaker mission in action

 What is Quakerism/Quaker Education web content

 Launched new brand in Meeting House Magazine

Time Matters

Create cross-divisional schedule that emphasizes deep learning, independence, and community

 Cross-divisional schedule launched 2020-2021 school year

Many Voices, One School

Update, implement Vision 2020:

Diversity Strategic Plan action steps

 Created Board of Trustees DEI sub-committee

 Increase financial aid to attract more students, families from diverse backgrounds

 Appointed Divisional DEI Coordinators

 Increased ethnic and racial diversity to the Board of Trustees

 Built all-family programs (three) that celebrate diversity of faith, culture, and race

Examine curriculum via anti-bias tool/lens

 Applied Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) filter to curriculum, including curricular revision based on Facing History and Ourselves process

 Added inclusive/diverse literature to Lower School Library collection

 Launched Learning for Justice Standards as a teaching tool

Implement regular Equity and Inclusion training program for all FA colleagues and students

 DEI onboarding for all new colleagues

 Annual anti-bias training for all colleagues (i.e., NeuroLeadership Institute, Vector, United Educators)

 DEI training for affinity group faculty leaders – student-based: 10; adultbased: 3 (as of Mar. 2023)

Increased observance of cultural holidays throughout the school year

 Now includes holidays such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, and others

Quaker excellence propels studentcentered & student-driven curriculum

Over the past five years, our educators have committed to teaching and learning rooted in Quaker practices and supported by the best current thinking in the field. Following K-12 curriculum reviews in the four core academic subjects, the Quaker Education (Q. Ed.) initiative, and study with thought partners, we’ve incorporated new teaching approaches into our repertoire. Our work with the Korda Institute, Facing History and Ourselves, Global Online Academy, and others has enabled us to build courses that not only reflect the best current thinking in the field but are student-centered and student-driven.

Friends Academy is the only private/independent school in the country to partner with the Korda Institute. Here, Upper School students deliver research, insights, and analysis to a local nonprofit for a business challenge in the Entrepreneurial Studies course.

Real-World Learning

We realize promise by bridging learning and life.

Engineering Innovation

Cultivate current talent and hire leaders in STEAM to design a K-12 program

 Hired Dean of Innovation

 Innovative professional development training with Korda Institute

Connect the Center for Innovation across divisions and community

 Create innovative K-12 course strands rooted in real-world service learning (local and national)

The Power of Partnership

Develop leadership, pilot partnerships across multiple disciplines

 Expanded innovation courses across three divisions –Entrepreneurialship, Financial Literacy, and Medicine

 Added new schedule to provide ample time for expanded experiential learning

Transcending Borders

International partnerships, curricular connections, and world travel

 Re-envision Grade 8 Costa Rica Trip with EE Ford Grant

 Exploratory international trip to school specializing in augmented reality

 Continuing to update our tech tools for LS pilot program (i.e., iPads, microscopes)

Sparking Interest

Forge alumni/parent partnership program to help build student passion/interests

 Alumni and parents participate in innovative courses as mentors, guest lecturers, and content experts

Identify experts to engage with students, faculty, and parents around research, demonstrations, and presentations

 Solutions in Medicine (local physicians)

 Entrepreneurship (businesses and nonprofits)

 Financial Literacy (finance experts)

With Great Distinction

Provide time, professional development, and resources for division-wide pilot programs in areas of innovation

 Financial Literacy featuring Bloomberg Terminals (16 total)

 DNA Learning Center partnership (US Science)

 Four-year partnership with the Korda Institute

STRATEGIC OUTCOME

Community partnerships deepen learning educationally, professionally

Through professional and educational partnerships, we have transcended our borders: Partnerships in the student life and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging arenas (NeuroLeadership Institute, Wells Collective, The Social Institute) helped us affirm what we know – that vital socialemotional functioning and a deep sense of belonging are essential for learning – and have strengthened what we’ve always done. Our anti-bias curriculum for adults and a new K-12 student life model have advanced our progress in these areas. In a literal sense, our innovative courses in Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools require that our students leave the boundaries of our campus, taking them into the local community to inquire, conduct research, and find solutions to real-world problems.

Left, seniors and Playgroup students partner in stewardship and service by enriching the Forest Program space with birdfeeders. Right, a fifth-grade student tests the bay water at Centre Island Beach.

Intentional Connections

We realize promise by connecting and aligning every aspect of our multidimensional school experience.

A2 Arts & Athletics

Invest in, commit to, promote, and connect our Arts and Athletics programs throughout the school

 Launched Athletic Student Leadership Council

 Expanded Upper School athlete partnership with LS/MS through clinics and presentations

 Launched National Girls and Women in Sports Day event

 Launched student partnership in immersive theater

 US mentored MS play cast

 Debuted first all-colleagues art exhibition

Integrate skills of teamwork, collaboration, public speaking, presentation, and expression

Create Athletics Master Plan

 Coaching development

 Parent and community engagement

 Facilities enhancement

Launch formal marketing plan for the Arts

 Hired new Director of Arts

 Launched Arts Instagram page

 Increased social/news posts specific to the arts

 Increased email marketing for the arts (internal and external)

Igniting Passions

Use student leadership to connect future student clubs and passion projects to community organizations

 Codifed systems, structures, and protocols for club/committee student leadership

 Leadership training for student clerks

Create structures and processes that support student ideas and initiatives

 Overhauled and launched new design of cross-divisional Quaker Student Life Program (QSLP)

Common Threads

Construct a summer and auxiliary experience that extends the school’s Quaker mission and academic excellence

 Continued partnership with FA Athletics and Admissions in Auxiliary and Summer Programs programming

 Expand Arts programming into after school and weekend offerings

Restructure Auxiliary programs to better reflect community needs and school priorities

 Hired new Director of Auxiliary Programs

 Audited, reviewed, and surveyed current program and staffing

 Created signature Auxiliary programs (i.e., Bloomberg)

 Increased enrichment programs enrollment substantially since 2019

Connect Auxiliary Programs to school-day programs and Quaker mission

 Created Advisory Board for feedback

 Launched new courses in business, SAT/ACT test prep, Science Research, and Fine Arts

 Offering various disciplines for Summer and school-year Enrichment programs (i.e., Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy & Investment, and Coding)

STRATEGIC OUTCOME

Outstanding academic identity is clarified and amplified across digital, regional and global boundaries

Guided by a new mission statement, belief message, and brand identity, Friends Academy has identified, galvanized, and communicated its academic identity. We’ve more than doubled the size of our communications department, which tells the Friends Academy story through regular updates using various platforms and channels. Our new website was recently translated into Mandarin and Spanish. Athletics and the newly created Arts and Parent Council Instagram accounts ensure all areas of interest are fully covered.

Left, a scene from this winter’s “SpongeBob, The Musical!” Right, the Boys Soccer team confers on the field.

Well-Being and Balance

We realize promise by creating the ideal conditions for lasting student success.

Soft Skills are Hard

Train all K-12 educators and advisors

 Redesigned US advisory program

 Host K-12 Student Life Dean training and annual retreat

Provide faculty resources and professional development for student wellness and advisory curriculum

 Partnership with Social Institute (grades 5-12)

 US online advisory curriculum resources

 Additional School Psychologist

 Additional School Nurse

Rewrite and reshape our health curriculum

 Hired Grades 5-12 Health Coordinator

 Redesign Grades 9-12 health curriculum

Gather all students for shared goals of well-being

 Implemented Affinity Group program (Grades 3-12)

 Increased frequency of Community Groups meetings (Grades K-12)

 Yearly kickoff with themed speakers

Service Learning/ Learning Service

Develop a skills-based leadership program with a focus on civic engagement

 Support nonprofits in local community (Glen Cove Senior Center, Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club)

 Work with local officials (Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr., Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck)

 Integrated into multiple elements of our academic and student life program (i.e., Civil Discourse Club, Spring/Fall Quaker Student Life Program Leadership Training)

Time for Space

Examine and adjust student workload for manageability, purpose, and meaning

 Independent School Management (ISM) Scheduling Audit

 Implemented new schedule

 Create a holistic schedule that sets a balanced pace each day and throughout the year for students and adults

Faculty completed training in:

 Global Online Academy (GOA)

 Schoology Learning Management System

Holistic changes strengthen student academic and social success

At the writing of this plan, and even more critical since the pandemic, our students’ physical and mental health is our top priority. Toward that goal, we reviewed and revised the K-12 health and advisory curricula, increased our nursing and psychological services staff, and added student life deans in the Lower and Middle School divisions. A new cross-divisional schedule was created and implemented to support all community learning and wellness. The 8-day cycle reduced the hectic pace of the day and opened up more time for all-school gatherings like community groups and peace vigils as well as opportunities for teachers to meet and plan. And for Upper School students, it built in up to two “late start” days per 8-day cycle.

We know that students learn more deeply when they are surrounded by support by empathetic peers, older student mentors, and engaged faculty.

Institutional Vitality

We realize promise by matching our resources to our vision.

Data-Driven Decisions

Develop and resource an Early Years program and facility

 Launch a Forest Program

 Expanded Little Friends Child Care, including available facilities

 Added Reggio-Emilia Program and Atelier

Set a five-year enrollment plan

Increase socio-economic diversity

 Set five-year enrollment targets

 Increased financial aid budget by 10% year over year since 2020

Continue to support full participation for all students at Friends Academy

 Evaluating school-sponsored trips (domestic and international) not covered by financial aid

 Increase funding for appropriate staffing, leadership development, and talent recruitment

 Assess impact of resource allocation on institutional sustainability

 Developed and used scenario analysis and multi-year forecasting model to assess impact of various variables and conditions

Masterful Planning

Develop a Master Campus Plan to ensure our physical spaces best serve our programmatic vision

 Building new 21,500 sq threefloor Center for Innovation that will house state-of-the art science labs, innovative programming, Makerspace and new tech environments for all divisions

 Hire new Director of Capital Planning & Campus Operations

 Created Active Projects Planning Dashboard

 Conducting Building Conditions Assessment in progress with National Facilities Direct

 Refreshing Frost Hall (Phase 1) – all classrooms, corridors, HOS, Admissions, College Counseling, student collab areas; lockers removed

Our Clear & Compelling Story

Restructure and resource the Advancement Office

 Hired full-time Advancement/ Campaign Associate

 Hired full-time Advancement Administrative Assistant

Restructure and resource the Communications Office

 Hired Director of Brand & Marketing to oversee branding, image, and digital marketing

 Expanded Visuals, Social Media, and Communications Specialist to fulltime

 Hired full-time Videographer/ Photographer

 Partner with outside vendors (Pineapple Studios, Direct Development, and Mission Minded)

Launch new brand strategy and school identity

 Launched new website, viewbook, and Admissions video

 Translated website to Spanish and Chinese

 Create content marketing on website and in email outreach (i.e., Quaker Education pillar page)

 Train all colleagues through branding workshops to create unified messaging

Execute formal internal/external marketing and communications plan

 Increase social media presence (i.e., organic posts and paid ads)

 Create downloadable e-books (Quaker Education)

 Continue to strengthen presence on referral sites (niche.com, Google Ads, other paid digital)

 Launch new paid advertorials

 Revamp messaging at open houses in partnership with Admissions

A Diversified Approach

 Continue to grow endowment

New Capital Campaign to deliver innovation in people, place, program

The Board made a strategic decision to invest funds in Friends Academy today and the future. These vital resources have allowed us to achieve nearly every goal in the strategic plan. We’ve added personnel in faculty and staff positions. We’ve trained, nurtured, and developed our employees, increased salaries, and expanded benefits to retain and attract the best educators to our school. Curriculum and strategic initiative grants opened the door to cross-divisional innovative programming at every level. The Always Friends $30M campaign was launched following the pandemic. While we work to secure donations, a $32M bond issue will allow us to begin construction on the Center for Innovation now. At the same time, Athletic and campus master plans are in development and will serve as a blueprint for future fundraising and campus advancement efforts.

Left, a Lower Schooler shares at our annual faith exchange, “Holidays with Friends.” Right, Upper School faculty engage in professional development.

As Former Friends Academy Trustee Thomas Lapham wrote in a 1960s report:

The day will never dawn when the Board of Trustees will look at the school and say, “This is perfection.” In education, there is no standing still; there is going ahead or there is going back. There is no complacent middle ground.

We owe it to our current and future students to “go ahead” together – to design, deliver, and ensure the best possible educational experience, one that reflects their time and place, and fosters the full realization of each person’s amazing promise within.

Together, we articulated the unique characteristics of our school’s present, as we created and executed on the blueprint that will keep us moving toward our desired future. Future generations will continue to ensure Friends Academy continues to embody the best of who we are even as we grow into the best of who we can become.