Friends School of Baltimore Admission View Book

The world needs

WHAT OUR CHILDREN CAN DO. OU TSTANDING TEACHERS and challenging academics are

the hallmarks of a Friends education. And, at its heart are the enduring values that shape and inspire our community. At Friends, our focus is to develop the whole child and give them the skills, confidence, and sense of responsibility to make an enduring contribution to the world.

2x

The world needs

Friends students are accepted at nearly two times the national college admission rate.

EXCELLENCE.

Our experienced College Guidance team works individually with students to help each find the right fit. This process takes careful attention, but the results speak for themselves.

IT STARTS WITH dedicated faculty whose passion for the

subject matter and for their profession compels each to set the bar high. Friends students know they are valued, challenged, and supported. And, their commitment to achieve places them in the company of generations of graduates who have used the foundational knowledge and skills, the values, and the lifelong connections formed here, to make our world a better place.

30%

NATIONAL RATE

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

32% RATE

10%

NATIONAL RATE

FRIENDS SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE

33%

FRIENDS ACCEPTANCE RATE

FRIENDS ACCEPTANCE

2

BOWDOIN COLLEGE

15%

NATIONAL RATE

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

42%

FRIENDS ACCEPTANCE RATE

ACADEMICS AT FRIENDS

3

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

DUKE UNIVERSITY TOWSON UNIVERSITY

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY

100

+

UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS

a critical component of 21st century learning

Friends School’s University Partnership Program (UPP) allows students to work directly with thought-leaders in colleges and universities around the country in fields such as neuroscience, engineering, the humanities, urban renewal, public health, and political science.

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Custom Learning Paths The Extradisciplinary Certificate Program (ECP) allows Upper School students to explore areas of academic interest beyond the traditional course of study.

Certificates that can be earned include STEAM, Diversity, Equality and Social Justice, and Global Studies.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY

COLLABORATION:

Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders Destination Imagination (DI) provides Lower School students with opportunities to create solutions to real-world problems.

DI is designed to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of leaders. Friends School’s first-time DI team took 6th place in the Maryland state tournament.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Who knew math could be so colorful?

Middle School Math students tap into their critical thinking, creative, and problem-solving skills to write computer programs that create repeatable tessellations using the minimum number of steps.

ACADEMICS AT FRIENDS

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Our Quaker values—Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship (SPICES)— are woven throughout the educational experience and help us create and sustain a community that is kind, inclusive, and respectful.

SIMPLICITY “Simplicity is a reinforcement that it’s what’s inside you that counts, not the material things.”

– Mia G., Class of 2016

PEACE “Working in the community, serving meals, and helping to build houses; those are all ways we live the testimony of peace.”

– Mary Charlotte M., Class of 2020

COMMUNITY “My first day here, it was easy to jump right into a group of good, nice people. As more people come every year, it’s fun to help them start a fresh, new school life.”

– Bria R., Class of 2019

EQUALITY “It’s a natural bond we have.

We all walk in each other’s shoes— we all feel for each other.”

– Ted V., Class of 2019

INTEGRITY “We all try and treat each other the way we want to be treated in the classroom, on the field, on stage, or just hanging out with our friends.”

– Christina M., Class of 2021

STEWARDSHIP “When I was at Friends, our class transformed a city park that had been neglected into an urban oasis, and we provided the residents the tools to preserve it.”

The world needs

EMPATHY. FRIENDS’ QUAKER-BASED PHILOSOPHY

challenges each of us to model behaviors that build community and promote equality in all its forms—cultural, racial, gender, and socioeconomic. This atmosphere of inquiry and respect, and the belief that the right kind of education can make the world a better place is ingrained in the fabric of the School.

– Jack D., Class of 2015

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EMPATHY AT FRIENDS

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The value of

At Friends, we offer an environment that includes the full range of diversity—race, religion, economics, gender, and most of all THOUGHT.

COEDUCATION We bring girls and boys together in a community defined by equality and respect, to learn with and from each other, in the classroom and beyond. We do so because it has been proven that academics as well as social skills are enriched by the interactions between genders.

Friends School’s commitment to diversity is grounded in our School’s values and our 232-year history.

In fact, 184 studies of over 1.6 million students have demonstrated that singlesex schooling provides no benefit over coeducation,* confirming what Friends School has always believed; that there is no valid educational reason for separating boys and girls and denying them the enormous advantages of coeducation. *According to a study published by the American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-a0035740.pdf

“We need to consider the trade-offs we may be making in sex-segregating students, closing off opportunities for learning from and with each other.”

— Susan McGee Bailey, Executive Director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women

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COEDUCATION REFLECTS THE TRUE

diversity OF OUR SOCIETY

Meeting for Worship An essential element of a Quaker education is Meeting for Worship, which fosters learning and personal growth while building a sense of trust and connection among classmates.

EMPATHY AT FRIENDS

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The world needs

IMMERSION.

“Global education is about more than language instruction; it’s about instilling in our students an openness of heart and mind and a deep appreciation and respect for people of all cultures and nationalities.

The world is increasingly interconnected, and boundaries, both geographical and social, have broken down.

Global learning through individual experiences and interaction with other cultures helps our students gain insights and build connections across borders.

– Lucy Williams Hand ’80, Upper School Language Department Chair, Spanish teacher

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IMMERSION AT FRIENDS

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Inspiring our students to seize the world of

Bringing culture to campus— no passport necessary.

Global Topics The entire Friends community engaged in a day-long symposium about immigration called “Crossing Borders.”

Students and faculty participated in workshops, listened to immigration stories, watched Chinese and West African dance, and so much more.

OPPORTUNITIES. Each year, our Upper School students have the opportunity to travel abroad on immersion trips to countries and regions where they can practice and deepen their language skills. In recent years, students have traveled to Argentina, France, Russia, Spain, and Turkey.

To Russia with Love Over the past five years, 18 students have been honored by the U.S. State Department with merit-based scholarships to study in Russia.

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International Students Our international students challenge themselves, discover hidden strengths and interests, and take advantage of all that a Friends education has to offer.

Meanwhile, all Friends students gain new perspectives and a broader experience by learning from and with students from other parts of the globe.

IMMERSION AT FRIENDS

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The world needs

CREATIVITY.

Showcasing Talent The All-School Art Show takes over the entire Friends gymnasium each spring and features works created by students from Pre-K to 12th grade.

IN A WORLD THAT DEMANDS innovative solutions

to complex problems, nurturing and fostering creative potential is critical. Whether in the art studio, MakerSpace, band and orchestra rooms, or on stage, every student has an opportunity to express his or her creativity at Friends.

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FRIENDS SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE

Printmaking This course explores all the possibilities of printmaking including relief, etching, and silkscreen printing in our new art studios.

CREATIVITY AT FRIENDS

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Everyone is a

Students have access to the latest technology such as 3D printers and laser etching devices.

Friends has MakerSpaces in the Upper, Middle, and Lower School buildings allowing for students of all ages to roll up their sleeves and design creative solutions.

Here’s what some of our favorite makers are up to:

MAKER!

Part science lab, wood shop, technology space, garage, and art studio our MakerSpaces provide students with the tools and guidance to explore and learn.

“The Makers’ movement in the field of education is not so much a new breakthrough as it is a rediscovery of a self-evident truth that humans have an innate drive to actively fashion, often with our own hands, solutions to the real-world needs and challenges we face.”

— Matt Micciche, Head of School

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FRIENDS SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE

Lower School 3rd and 4th graders share Genius Time where children are given the opportunity to research subjects that interest them in the MakerSpace.

Middle School Students sew costumes in social studies, create their own musical instruments in music, and replicate famous landmarks in French and Russian classes.

Upper School Students use the principles of physics to design a motorized engine for a manual bicycle, providing an opportunity to create, prototype, test, and refine their ideas.

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Students explore their full POTENTIAL through performance.

Friends students are given ample opportunities to create inspiring performances. In addition to our performing arts curriculum, extracurricular ensembles abound, including rock and jazz bands, Chamber Music Club, Pirouettes Dance Club, Fiddle Club, and a capella groups.

CHORUS “Most all who wish they can sing actually can, and they can achieve a high level of success while developing a lifelong love for singing.”

Michael McVey Choral Music and English teacher

BAND “Brain research indicates that playing an instrument grows the brain in powerful ways.”

John Gifford Music Department Coordinator

ORCHESTRA “Orchestra is an ensemble in which many become one and experience the transcendence of being a part of something bigger than the individual.”

Kirsten Walsh Orchestra Director and Middle School music

DANCE “The language of dance moves our bodies in the artistic realm of life.”

Torens Johnson Dance teacher

THEATER “Theater is a crossroads of the mind and heart, a safe location, where creativity is given a chance to be explored and nurtured and tolerance and empathy are allowed to develop, enriching the school experience for each student.”

Robert Oppel Upper and Middle School Theater Director

The Pleiades opened for Jay Leno at the Lyric Opera House. They drew hearty applause from a full house with performances of songs that ranged from The Beatles “I Will” to Lorde’s “Royals.”

Photo: Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group

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CREATIVITY AT FRIENDS

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INTERSCHOLASTIC MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS

51

STUDENT ATHLETES NAMED ALL-CONFERENCE IN 2015 –2016

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FRIENDS SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE

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INTERSCHOLASTIC UPPER SCHOOL SPORTS

The world needs

SPORTSMANSHIP. 100

%

OF STUDENTS INVOLVED IN AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM

ATHLETICS ARE AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT of a

Friends education. The physical, social, and emotional benefits of playing on a team—of setting and working toward goals; of trying, failing, and learning from one’s mistakes — extend beyond the playing fields and courts. Friends’ thoughtful approach to competition challenges students and coaches to bring their best selves to every practice, every game, every day.

ATHLETICS AT FRIENDS

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Playing to win is what we do.

Playing with character is WHO WE ARE. Our goals and values demand that students and coaches treat each other, officials, opposing players, coaches, and fans with respect, dignity, and sportsmanship at all times.

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10 PLAYOFFS IN 10 YEARS

Our athletic program embodies and reinforces the core values of Friends School and develops in our athletes the critical qualities of resilience, collaboration, sportsmanship, teamwork, communication, and leadership.

CHAMPIONSHIPS

6

PLAYOFFS IN 6 YEARS

For the love of the game Our expectations for the athletic program mirror those for academics; high standards for all involved, full commitment, and support that allows every child to fulfill his or her potential.

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ATHLETICS AT FRIENDS

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The world needs

PURPOSE.

10+ YEARS

UPPER SCHOOL PARTICIPATION IN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

400+

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FRIENDS SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE

10,000+

LUNCHES

FRUITS & VEGETABLES

PREPARED BY PRE-PRIMARY STUDENTS EACH YEAR FOR THOSE IN NEED

DONATED TO THE CARES FOOD PANTRY FROM OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN

BEGINNING AS EARLY AS PRE-PRIMARY,

our students experience how fulfilling service can be.

Our Community Partnership programs open students’ eyes and hearts to the pressing needs of underserved peoples in our community and in our world.

PURPOSE AT FRIENDS

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The pursuit of

PEACE

Friends School 4th graders, along with their peers from Robert W. Coleman Public Elementary School gather twice weekly at Friends for an after-school club dedicated to playing the World Peace Game.

Founded more than 30 years ago by veteran educator John Hunter, the game seeks to place “all the problems of the world,” including economic, social and environmental crises, and the imminent threat of war, on a 4’-by-5’ playing board and “let the children solve them.”

“Show students that you are interested in what they love, respect them as individuals, respect what they love— and help them go deeper towards their interests.”

— John Hunter, Founder of the World Peace Game

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Serving Up Community Service During our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, students participate in a variety of activities, from serving breakfast to families at the Ronald McDonald House to glazing pottery to donate to The Empty Bowls Project.

Peace, Nonviolence, and Social Justice As part of this Upper School course, students collaborate on a service project to address a pressing social issue. Students pursue a comparative study of the writings of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thich Nhat Hann as well as other activists.

Hammering Humanity Friends’ Habitat for Humanity Club is a perfect learning laboratory for our Upper School students to cultivate and practice the communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills we teach in the classroom.

PURPOSE AT FRIENDS

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The world needs

LEADERSHIP. EVERY STUDENT has the capacity to lead.

From our classrooms to our clubs and athletic programs, students are encouraged to rise to challenges and explore how their unique skills can make them agents of change.

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FRIENDS SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE

Diplomatic Leaders The Model U.N. Club introduces students to the world of diplomacy and provides opportunities for them to put their public speaking, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills to the test.

For many students their Model U.N. experiences lay the groundwork for international relations studies in college.

Diversity Leaders The Student Diversity Leadership Conference is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of student leaders in grades 9 through 12. Students develop cross-cultural communication skills and strategies for achieving social justice within and beyond the Friends community.

Social Leaders Thanks to Twitter and education apps, like Padlet and Seesaw, Friends students in Kindergarten through 5th grade collaborate with peers from around the world on a variety of projects.

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Our students are the HEART and soul of Friends.

Their enthusiasm to pursue their interests and develop their passions fuels a unique culture of participation on campus. Their roles in athletics, clubs, and art helps develop humble and empathetic leaders.

STUDENT PROFILE

Allison Goldbloom Class of 2018 STUDENT PROFILE

Ross Jones Class of 2017 Clubs

African American Mentoring Program Peer Educator Head of Ambassador Club Head of Black Awareness Club Head of Man-Up mentoring program

Athletics

Boys Varsity Basketball (4 years) Captain Boys Varsity Basketball

“Students are expected to participate in many aspects of school life— they often discover new passions and talents, as they broaden their horizons and explore interests outside their comfort zones.”

— Paula H. Senft ’09, Associate Director of Admission

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FRIENDS SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE

Favorite Classes

History and Math—History class is full of so much information and yet it’s where I find peace with learning. Whereas in math, it is always fun to find answers to challenging problems. I love that math is full of real-world applications.

Clubs

Head of UNICEF Club Meeting for Worship Clerk Pirouettes Dance Club Ambassador Club

Athletics

Varsity Indoor Soccer Varsity Softball JV Tennis

Arts

Concert Chorale Wind Ensemble Pleiades a capella group

Favorite Classes

Spanish and English—Both English and Spanish let me explore my passions. I love learning a new language and communicating with others through classroom discussion and interpretive writing.

LEADERSHIP AT FRIENDS

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THE WORLD of TOMORROW is one we can’t fully imagine.

the world needs

CONNECTION OUR CHILDREN will live in a world that will be exponentially

more complex than it is today; one that will require critical and creative thinkers, curious and adaptive learners, masters of collaboration, and compassionate leaders.

The world of tomorrow will be molded by the values, talents, and passions we nurture in our students today. Friends School of Baltimore believes deeply in each student’s potential to be an invaluable contributor—now and in the future.

Because — THE WORLD NEEDS WHAT OUR CHILDREN CAN DO.

Visit Friends: www.friendsbalt.org Take a virtual tour: www.experience.friendsbalt.org 410.649.3200 admission@friendsbalt.org

Visit Friends at www.friendsbalt.org Take a virtual tour at www.experience.friendsbalt.org 5114 North Charles Street • Baltimore, MD 21210 • 410.649.3200 • admission@friendsbalt.org