Focus Magazine Late Spring 2016

FOCUS MAGAZINE

SAYING GOODBYE TO DEPARTING TEACHERS, FACULTY, AND STAFF PAGE 3

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FOCUS Check out the Quakefeed: fcsquakefeed.com Editors in Chief:

Zoe Ginsberg ‘17 and Eliza Caisse ‘18

Graphic Design & Layout Editor: Josh Weinstein ‘18

Editorial, Political, and Diversity Editor: Talia Rosenberg ‘17

Sports Editors:

Sophie Berger ‘17 and Robbie Winward ‘17

Photographer: Yutian Feng ‘17

Faculty Advisors:

Steve Patterson, Montgomery Ogden, and Clare Luzuriaga

Staff:

Josh Benjet ‘16 Nate Guerra ‘16 John Ge ‘17 Nicole Pollack ‘17 Evan Paszamant ‘18 Caroline Weaver ‘18 Karishma Singh ‘18

Goodbye To Our 2016 Editors in Chief BY: ZOE GINSBERG ‘17

Elizabeth and Natasha were enthusiastic from the beginning. Their motivation to move Focus online took hard work and dedication, and thanks to them we now have a working news feed accessible to anyone at anytime. Quakefeed was their project, and now for years to come the Focus team will continue to make it a stronger and more interesting feed. Being a senior is already enough work, but Elizabeth and Natasha took on the newspaper with smiling faces and always helpful criticism. Their leadership was inspiring to everyone in

Focus. On behalf of the Focus news team, we wish Elizabeth and Natasha the best of luck as they move on to the next chapter in their lives.

P.S. From Dr. P: The switch from print to the magazine format was an innovative and exciting change, so in that way Natasha and Elizabeth made a strong mark on the school newspaper. (I’m still hearing compliments on magazine #1!) We are grateful for your leadership and wish you all the best.

Natasha (left), Elizabeth (right)

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Saying Goodbye To Departing Teachers, Faculty, & Staff This year the Friends’ Central community is saying goodbye to amazing teachers, faculty members, and staff who will leave a lasting impact.

Goodbye Gary Nicolai BY: BRAD MORRIS

“Need any help?”

We’ve all heard him say it. Mr. Nic notices someone who could use a hand. Maybe it’s cafeteria duty. Maybe it’s covering a class. Maybe it’s a student who needs some guidance with the big history paper. It doesn’t matter what the need is, Gary Nicolai is always ready to pitch in and help. That’s just the kind of guy he is. A giver. A helper. Someone who really cares about everyone in the community.

And when I say everyone I mean it. There is not a soul on campus who has not been touched in some way by the kindness, warmth and caring of Gary Nicolai. He cares about everyone here so much because he cares about our school so much. That is why it will not be easy for him to say good-bye. And it will not be easy for the school to say goodbye to Gary, either.

I arrived at FCS in 1985, the year after Gary got here. We became close friends almost immediately. We coached softball together for many years. After all those years, we still play tennis together outside of school, we

Goodbye Shannan Schuster BY: CRAIG SELLERS

For the past three years, Shannan Schuster has been Friends’ Central’s first ever Assistant Head of School for Academic Program.

She’s been a pioneer in this position and proven the merit and importance of such a role in our community. Although we are sad to see Shannan depart at the end of the school year, we are grateful to her for all of her hard work and the way she has created an incredible path forward for her successor.

Shannan is human sunshine. She is that mid-day cup of coffee when you’re starting to fade at 3PM. Shannan lights up a room with her ideas for the future and her unshakable

still hang out together at the breakfast table each morning, and we still socialize both inside and outside of school. He is a dear, dear friend!

In the 31 years I have known Gary, I have found him to be a man of passion and commitment. And knowledge! Nicipedia! Mr. Nic is passionate about teaching history in a way that invites students to relive and inhabit major historical events through simulations and projects. And he is deeply committed to his students -- often working here in the library on weekends to prepare his classes and the vaunted Model UN program.

It is very difficult for me to imagine Friends’ Central School without our beloved friend, colleague and teacher. Friends’ Central has meant so much to Gary for so many years, and he has meant so much to all of us for that time too. Endings like this are hard, but I know he is looking forward to many new opportunities and experiences that await him as he enters the next chapter of the Book of Nic.

optimism. She is passionate about the art of teaching, and she herself is an extraordinary teacher. Most importantly, Shannan never forgets that schools are, first and foremost, about children.

On behalf of the Friends’ Central community, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Shannan for her innovation, devotion to education, and energy. My sadness at losing her is made a little bit better knowing that she is going back to her hometown to be the Head of School at a wonderful institution that will most definitely flourish under her leadership.

Kelly Pierre Says Thank You to Ms. Schuster Ms. Schuster is the model of “Yes, and....” She has boundless energy, never-ending optimism and unlimited generosity. Faced with a challenge, she gets right in there, understanding that if a group of people start brainstorm-

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ing ideas and possibilities, from even the worst ideas will come great ones. It has been a true privilege to work from her and learn from her.

Goodbye Ms. Mazullo BY: ROBBIE WINWARD ‘17

Ms. Mazullo has worked at Friends’ Central as the FCS Learning Specialist for 7 years. She is an enthusiastic, kind, smart, and caring person who has played a key role in many students’ academic careers. She is always welcoming to those who stop in for help or even just for chocolate.

When asked about her favorite memory, Ms. Mazullo stated, “I have so many favorite memories it is hard to choose.” However, she recalled the time when she was a 10th grade advisor and had Meeting for Worship on the beach. I asked Ms. Mazullo what she will miss the most and she responded, “I will miss the smart, kind, funny, endearing students the most, and my colleagues a close second!” Her kind presence and loving heart will be missed by many and we wish her the best as she leaves.

Goodbye Colin Angevine BY: ZOE GINSBERG ‘17

FCS and most of all, the Makerspace, will miss the warm smile and helping hand of FCS alum Colin “BC” Angevine. BC thinks in terms of possibility, inspiring others to approach problems creatively across campus. Through his conversations with students, he helps them to arrive at new ideas that enable them to express themselves. His bubbly energy is contagious and encourages students to not only learn about the core subjects when they come to school, but to learn how to use technology and all the amazing tools in the Makerspace. When I asked Katie Pidot, a dear friend and colleague of BC, to describe him, she said, “Who doesn’t know BC’s signature introduction, ‘Hey everybody I’m BC.’ His calm voice, big smile, and open hands make space for reflection and idea bubbling. Friends’ Central is a tight knit community, and BC is the thread that ties us together. He connects people to

Goodbye Ms. Socorro BY: EVAN PASZAMANT ‘18

people to grow ideas and to make. When I asked my five year old daughter why she loves talking to BC so much, she replied, ‘BC asks a lot of questions.’ Asking questions and presenting queries are BC’s signature style, a style that I hope to echo in my classroom. We will miss him tremendously and work tirelessly to make space for connection and reflection as he does!”

BC’s work goes beyond the Makerspace as he helped design the Latin program in the Middle School and taught Latin and Computer Science before moving to the Upper School. BC also has his own blog, check it out at: https://theycallmebc.com.

On behalf of Friends’ Central, thank you so much BC! We wish you all the luck in your future endeavors.

Goodbye Teacher Daniel BY: COLIN ANGEVINE

(Not Victoria)

Though this farewell is not forever, FCS says goodbye to Maria Socorro as she takes the next year of her life to care for her newborn daughter, Victoria. Ms. Socorro is a passionate Upper School Spanish teacher and a key component to the incredible Spanish department at Friends’ Central. Ms. Socorro’s contributions go beyond the Spanish department as she is also a supervisor of the Yearbook. Her contagious enthusiasm and love for teaching others will be missed in the upcoming year. We cannot wait to hear updates about next year and to see the cute baby pictures!

Teacher Daniel has taught the two Upper School Computer Science classes this year. Or at least that is all he was asked to do: thanks to his considerable talents, Daniel ended up coaching the mathematical modeling club, mentoring students who were pursuing complex computing challenges, and supporting creative projects in the makerspace. The FCS community is delighted to have had the chance to work with him, and we are sorry that we only had one year to learn from him. We all would like to wish Daniel the very best in the adventures that lie ahead!

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Goodbye Mr. Buck BY: SAM VEITH ‘16

I have never been a fan of saying goodbye. I tend to maintain weak relationships, or simply just walk away and move on. However, I can say with certainty that Keith Buckingham is someone I plan on keeping in touch with.

My relationship with Mr. Buckingham (henceforth called “Buck” for sanity’s sake) started late into my sophomore year. I honestly forget the first time we met, but I remember that he didn’t remember my name until my junior year. His physics class was beyond equations and logic; his stories and their morals became essential for navigating the politics of high school. (We addressed various questions such as, Do bad students exist?, What life values should we enhance?, and Are hermit crabs the answer to nuclear fission?) Buck quickly

became a highly valued resource to me -- as well as to so many other students.

Since I am someone who tends to put up protective walls, his advice was personal and resounded with me in revolutionary ways. He inadvertently taught me to embrace my goofiness and to be myself. I now know I can ace a job interview by being both professional and goofy at the same time. Buck has taught this same diligence and given constructive advice to countless students at Friends’ Central for the past 35 years. I’m deeply grateful that I’ve known Buck - not only as a teacher, but also as a friend - for the past three years. I know that our friendship will continue as we graduate side-by-side as the Class of 2016.

Goodbye Keith Bradburd BY: ROBBIE WINWARD ‘17

Keith Bradburd, the Director of Athletics, is finishing his 38th year at Friends’ Central School. We will miss his presence around the school and at the various athletic competitions. Mr. Bradburd is not only a huge part of the sports scene at Friends’ Central, but a key member of the community.

Mr. Bradburd has had a huge impact during his time at Friends’ Central. One of his favorite memories was helping to create the “wonderful, modern, and functional athletic center,” the Shimada Athletic Center. Mr. Bradburd described his vision for the building as “not only a place for athletics, but a gathering place for students.”

When asked what he will miss the most, Mr. Bradburd stated, “I am going to miss three things. Firstly, I am going to miss

working with a tremendous group of students over the years, who were able to understand the culture of athletics at FCS. Secondly, I could not have asked to work with a more supportive group of teachers.

And finally, I will miss the coaches who were teachers first, who taught not only

their sport, but sportsmanship and were mentors to their teams.”

The work Mr. Bradburd has done for the school has undoubtedly changed FCS for the better. His love for the school will not be forgotten. On behalf of Friends’ Central, thank you Mr. Bradburd, we wish you luck.

Ms. David Says Goodbye to Mr. Bradburd Keith Bradburd, for me, is Friends’ Central. He has dedicated the last 38 years to making Friends’ Central a better place by promoting integrity, equality, and above all, community both on and off the field.

I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of the girls’ soccer program here at FCS this year and am saddened that my first year as a part of the athletic program is also Keith’s last.

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In just two years at FCS, I have seen his passion and consistent presence across two divisions, three seasons, and countless contests. Keith sets the tone for the coaches and student athletes by approaching athletics in a balanced and positive way.

When I think of him, I recall his annual trip with the middle school boys’ soccer team to PPL park to watch the Union play, I see him in our beloved blue and gray, checking the fields before a big match,

and I feel the good vibes and energy from a great guy who loves sports and loves this place.

Thank you Keith for all that you have done.

You will be dearly missed. I am grateful for the opportunity to work under your guidance and leadership.

Our Day at WHYY BY: ELIZA CAISSE ‘18

On Friday, April 8th, Teacher Monty and five Friends’ Central students had the honor of attending an all day “youth press day” conference at the WHYY headquarters. WHYY, the flagship National Public Radio station in Pennsylvania, was originally the first station in Philadelphia devoted solely to educational programming.

However, WHYY now produces an abundance of various television and radio programs such as You Bet Your Garden and NewsWorks.

During this innovative conference, a crowd of students from several schools within the greater Philadelphia area had the chance to assemble and attend three different journalism workshops and seminars throughout the day.

When signing up for the conference, students were required to pick one of the many journalism based sessions for each of the three different timed sections. Each session focused on one specific aspect of journalism, including working cameras and green screens, turning ideas into stories, and more. Some of these session’s names included How to Land Your First Job in Journalism, Finding Your Voice on Air, Editing Video for the News, etc.

My personal schedule for the day contained three quite different workshops. My first workshop, “Making an Idea Into a Story,” featured a news journalist who spoke to my group about both the positive and negative aspects of turning an idea or concept into a factual and compelling news piece. Upon entering the room, the speaker handed each student a news story regarding a recent train derailment and gave us three minutes to not only read the entire story, but also to summarize the most important details of the story in only two sentences. This activity then led to a discussion on the difficulties of turning an idea into a story in such a short time frame, and how the speaker has dealt with this issue in his own occupation.

My second workshop was based on Narrative Storytelling. Narrative storytelling is a story spoken or written accounting connected events. The speaker, a journalist and the head of the WHYY department of education, had the students listen to a few of the stories he had recorded for the radio. Then he had them discuss how each of these stories incorporated narrative storytelling, and how this positively or negatively affected the piece. For example, one of the speaker’s stories featured a father whose son had committed suicide. Abuse from a priest at his catholic high school caused the son to have immense depression. After hearing this story, the group discussed how, when reporting on clergy abuse, including a story of someone who, as an individual, was greatly affected by the issue, helped people sympathize and connect with the victim and therefore better raised awareness on the problem as a whole. One thing I found particularly fascinating about this workshop was how the speaker explained that he chose this specific story because as a child, he had attended the same Catholic school as the child who had been abused, and therefore felt an extreme personal connection to the story. He explained that this connection made producing this story very personally rewarding.

Through this, the other students and I realized the immense detail one must put into their pictures and descriptions of food in order to write a proper review and promote the food for someone who has never tasted it themselves.

Towards the end of the conference, the students all gathered in one room where they were able to display their own school’s blogs, newspapers, and other various projects they had worked on. They also expressed how their own schools work to incorporate news reporting and journalism into their student’s lives. This was also very beneficial to us as Friends’ Central students as it helped us gain ideas and take advice from other students, which we can now incorporate into our own school’s magazine. Students were able to choose from many other things, including workshops, where students can work with a green screen and even meet with the leading WHYY reporters. I highly recommend that anyone who can attend the WHYY youth press day next year, does so. Not only will you certainly be able to find workshops that cater to your own journalistic interests, but you will also gain an unforgettable experience in which you meet with incredibly fascinating speakers and children who share similar interests to your own. Next year I hope that many more students will attend for this wonderful experience and bring back more ideas and expertise for our Focus team.

My last workshop, “Food Writing and Photography,” was very different to my first two as it did not, in fact, resemble a lecture, but rather a sort of art class and atelier. During the workshop, the speaker, a food journalist and photographer for WHYY, asked the students to take pictures of an assortment of donuts from Federal Donuts, an acclaimed donut shop in Philadelphia. Then, without any prior knowledge of the actual flavor, students were asked to take photos, taste, and review the unusual looking donuts.

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Music Recommendations

BY: JOHN GE ‘17

PJ HARVEY - THE HOPE SIX DEMOLITION PROJECT The 46-year-old English rocker takes on the theme of politics as she did five years ago with her last album Let England Shake. What is different now is that she embraces the political destruction with more exhilaration. She still sounds joyous while she compares Benning Road to the “pathway of death.” (“The Community of Hope”) She never seemed happier than this in her works throughout her career. Harvey shows her own perspective about the world in The Hope Six Demolition Project, and the names of the tracks are in some way

reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984 (“The Ministry of Defense,” “The Ministry of Social Affairs.” Compared to the brisk beats and flashing juxtaposition of cross-genre instruments in Let England Shake, Project’s production is less ornate, but does not lose its merit. There are still notable moments such as the marching band style in “The Community of Hope” and the saxophones in “The Wheel.”

THE JEZABELS - SYNTHIA You may not know who they are, but The Jezabels are quite popular in their home country, Australia. Their debut album, Prisoner, reached #2 on the Australian album chart and won the ARIA award (which is equivalent to the Grammy’s in Australia) in 2012. The band then faced a sophomore slump in 2014 with their album The Brink, which received mixed reviews. Now they are back with their third studio album Synthia. As the album title indicates, Synthia incorporates more synthesizer elements into their new songs. The guitar

riffs that used to play a major role in their works now kind of fade away in some of the songs, and only appear in the chorus. Each track varies, yet they all integrate together well and fit under the title Synthia. Many tracks start with the crispy synthesizer and the vocals fade in with guitar sounds.

Sometimes it’s overwhelming (“My Love Is My Disease”), and sometimes it can be vulnerable (“Smile”). Finding a way to mix different genres may be hard, but they are doing a great job.

DVSN - SEPT. 5TH Dvsn is a Canadian R&B duo consisting of Paul Jefferies -- the co-producer of Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” and “Hotline Bling” -- and Daniel Daley, a novice singer from Toronto. The R&B duo has received a lot of attention since their debut last September. Their first LP Sept. 5th, which is also the day their first song was released, is one of the many good R&B records in the recent years. Like their truncated name dvsn (pronounced as division), their music tries to minimize sound effects and use the voice to present all the emotions. The

mellow vocals in the tracks are reminiscent of the 90’s R&B and you can easily find the traces of Boyz II Men, Maxwell and D’Angelo. However, the contemporary production avoids the cheesiness in the melodies and makes the songs more groovy. If you are a fan of R&B from the old days, dvsn will definitely be a new favorite.

MILIYAH KATO - LIBERTY As a huge fan of J-Pop, I need to say that the best J-Pop record in the beginning of 2016 would be Miliyah Kato’s LIBERTY. Collecting four singles since her last studio album MUSE in 2014, this album incorporates more electro-pop influenced songs with the R&B ballads she is known for. Club bangers are added into this album, as she steps out of her comfort zone to try different types of music and collaborate with artists in more varying styles. Some might say she is following the trend of current EDM, but she is definitely doing it in her own way. “This is my party,” “MIRROR MIRROR,” and “LIBERTY” are all songs that find her advancing towards the field of electronic pop music. “CLIMAX,” “BABYLON,” and the pre-released single “Lipstick,” are tra-

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ditional Japanese R&B ballads with pretty decent songwriting. Many songs stand out among the 17-track record. “LIBERTY,” the opening song, is easily the best EDM-influenced track on the record. Its ethereal atmosphere, in addition to the trap beats, resonantes with her singing: “Spread the wings and take off, the heartbeat will never stop.” Another highlight is the song “Megami no Hikari (Goddess’ Light),” where her voice collaborates perfectly with the one of Maki Munetaka. “Piece of Cake -Shout Out for Love-” is another song in which she steps into new territory. The guest artist Kazunobu Mineta gives this song a new form of energy. The closing track “Lipstick” is the most honest moment in LIBERTY. She exposes her weakness and loneliness,

just as she did 12 years ago in “Dear Lonely Girl.” After 12 years, she shows us that she is still the same Miliyah.

Focus Podcasts

BY: FARIA REHMAN ‘17, YUTIAN FENG ‘17, & JOHN GE ‘17 Focus has decided to supplement its current magazine and online news feed with a new outlet for news-podcasts. Our podcasts are a way of opening up the FCS community to the pure, uncensored opinions of the students. We plan on having each podcast shed light on a different issue or community at FCS, and we want to use these to bring forth a live, spoken-word type of reporting that hasn’t existed at FCS yet.

For our first podcast, we decided to interview influential community members involved in diversity work about their ideas on racism. Race and racism have had a massive impact on both the national and campus levels in the past year or so, and we wanted

to create an outlet for students to clearly voice their complete, honest opinions about the issue.

This first podcast brings forth not only their thoughts on what’s been happening but also their thoughts on what the solution to diminish racism on the Main Line can be. It’s innovative, created by the students for the students, and marks a new way of storytelling for students to make their voices heard in the community on issues they’re passionate about. Podcasts will be aired on Quakefeed, with our first one already up and ready for listening!

Thanks!

Appreciative Inquiry BY: TALIA ROSENBERG ‘17

On April 20th, after a year of strategizing, a group of students, faculty, parents, alumni/ae and administrators came together in a Quakerly fashion to find ways to strengthen our Friends’ Central community. The idea, in the words of teacher Laura Novo, an active participant in the Appreciative Inquiry, was “to discern what the core success is of FCS and build on that. Instead of paying attention to weaknesses, we look for what works and use that to progress.” There have been complaints throughout the year about FCS sweeping its problems under the rug and focusing more on the good parts. Through this strategy of identifying the major positives, however, the administration believes the community will be able to have a real conversation on how we can use our current strengths to bring us even further in the future.

The organizing strategy of the retreat was to divide up all of the different people in attendance into eight tables and put them with others that were not in their same position (teachers with students, alumni/ae with faculty, etc.). Each table had a theme that they were supposed to discuss: Passionate teaching and learning; Valuing every voice; Nurturing Individuals: skills, talents, needs, and interests; Quaker Values: The heart of a strong, connected community; Safe space for open hearts and minds; Kindness, respect, empathy and joy; Student empowerment for learning and life; and Cultivating meaningful relationships.

According to Lydia Martin, Director of Strategic Initiatives, these themes were chosen based on anecdotes and personal experiences that emerged from surveys sent out to the community this winter. Each table was assigned one theme to explore and were told to list ways in which aspects of their theme appear in the larger philosophy and practices of FCS.

After discussing all of the themes, the participants were told to split into smaller groups and create “provocative propositions.”

The idea of a provocative proposition is to write about something you would like to see at FCS that does not yet exist, and make it sound as appealing as possible. For example, one proposition stated that everyone in the future, when graduating from FCS, would be leaving fluent in Spanish after a Lower through Upper School required Spanish curriculum, and with a stamp in their passport.

Another proposed an all school curriculum completely designed around culture and current events as a way to expose students to the world around them through every type of class. Of course, not every one of these propositions will go into effect, but all of

them were given to the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools to be analyzed and used in shaping the future of FCS. A lot has happened this year, that is undeniable. But a lot of what has happened can be simplified into core values that really need strengthening within our community. Student empowerment, empathy, a safe space, valuing every voice- there are many events from this year we can connect these themes to. By focusing in on these FCS values, groups were able to create innovative and thoughtful propositions for our future. There was talk, for instance, of a statistics class having units based on things like graphing the data that show the inequality within voting!

Latifah McMullen, brought up that “[she wishes] FCS was more affordable for more families.” Comments like this contributed to proposals which discussed giving out more scholarships as a way to create more opportunities. Other propositions mentioned things like revamping the curriculum, and new classes that make creative use of technology!

I definitely left the conference with a greater appreciation for Friends’ Central and an even deeper yearning to make progress as a school. Despite the amazing ideas brought up at the inquiry, some participants left craving more specific solutions. Zayn Carey, a student participant, expressed that he “[does not] think that there will ever be a concrete way to resolve the issues that we’ve faced as a community this year, but, the inquiry did a good job of offering ways we can move forward as a community.” While

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the goals of conference did not focus specifically on the issues faced this year or how to prevent them in the future, there was an overarching emphasis on a real need for improvement.

One parent of our community, Melissa Anderson, explained that, “although we have the aspirations to live out our Quaker values, I do not always feel that the school creates the space for students and faculty to have the courageous conversations about their different experiences; creating more intentional openness to dialogue and ability to talk about difficult topics in terms of classroom experiences, race, gender, privilege, and learning styles.” She was not alone in her thoughts. There was a lot of talk on creating a safer space for open dialogue and the hope is, after

all of the post-inquiry strategizing and with the continued work of everyone within our community, we can help create this space.

Although no concrete decisions were made at this inquiry conference, after using the ideas and the propositions brought on by those there, our community will do all that it can to progress. The action to improve doesn’t have to start and end with the inquiry.

Every student in this school has a voice and if they want something enough they can find the means to make it heard. Change may not come by the end of this year or even the end of next year, but it’s clear that Friends’ Central is striving to become a community that its members can be proud of.

New Classes Being Offered Next Year BY: ELIZA CAISSE ‘18

Next year, Friends’ Central will be debuting a number of new classes available to students. Since our school will be switching to a two semester year format, students will be able to choose from many new semester-long classes as well as older classes that will be adapted to a semester-long calendar. Some classes will remain as year-long, two semester courses. Recently, I was able to inter-

view many of the teachers who will be teaching these new classes and gained some great information on how they will be taught and carried out. If you would like to gain a deeper understanding of the classes you will be taking next year, or simply want ideas for classes to take in the future, then this article may be helpful to you!

ART DEPARTMENT Musical Theatre - Michele Zuckman If you love to sing, dance, act, or listen to Hamilton on the daily, this class is the one for you! Ms. Zuckman’s new class aims to explore the roots of American musical theatre in order to provide each student with an in-depth knowledge of musical theatre and its culture. In order to join this class you do not have to be a performer, but if you are, this class will offer many opportunities for those who are comfortable participating in in-class performances. If you do not wish to perform, however, this class will provide other opportunities through which to research and present your information. One example of a possible project a student may take on in this class is to study George Gershwin and do a project based on his work, perhaps singing one of his songs, performing a scene from one of his musicals, or designing a costume based on one of his shows. The class will be graded based on participation, projects, and presentations.

Fundamentals of Singing - Michele Zuckman If you love to sing or wish to develop your voice and understanding of music, come join Ms. Zuckman’s second new class, Fundamentals of Singing! Students who join must be willing to develop their voices but do not necessarily have to be great singers. The class will resemble a group voice lesson, allowing you to explore your own vocal abilities and sing a variety songs with your peers.

You will learn how to focus on your vocal anatomy and breathing, and will participate in character studies from musicals, reading and analyzing lyrics, translating foreign languages, and interpreting songs. Students will study a variety of song styles and genres including folk, art, and musical theatre. This class will also be graded based on participation, projects, and presentations.

Wearable Art - Hilary Takiff Weiss If you live for fashion or simply enjoy crafting or creating wearable pieces, come join Ms. Weiss’ new class, Wearable Art! This class will predominantly consist of jewelry-making, but will also include other projects such as painting silk scarves. One project that this class will take on is using precious metal clay to make authentic silver jewelry. During this project, students will be able

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Student-made jewelry

to create a mandala on their iPad, laser cut the design, and press it into the clay in order to make an impression. This impression will later be used to make a pendent for a necklace. When I interviewed Ms. Weiss regarding this new class, she showed me the necklace she had made when planning the project and it was stunning. It truly looked like a piece of jewelry one could buy in a store. Overall, I would highly recommend participating in this new class!

Other classes joining the art department next year include African American Music - From Spirituals to Hip-hop (Mr. Bradley), Architectural Drawing and Model Making (Mr. Seidel), Intro to Stage Acting (Ms. Guerin), and 3D Art and Practical Skills - Wood Shop Re-imagined (Mr. Luzuriaga/C.J.).

HISTORY DEPARTMENT Modern Chinese History - Jim Rosengarten If you wish to learn about China, its fascinating growth, influence throughout the world in the 20th century, and shifts from dynasty to republic to communist government, Mr. Rosengarten’s new class, Modern Chinese History, may be of great interest to you! This new class will be a survey course of the history of China beginning with the Qing Dynasty and making its way up to the end of the 20th century. Students will spend time looking at the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), getting a sense of the dynastic periods in China, and then will later launch into an exploration of the rich history of China in the 20th century. From this class, Mr. Rosengarten hopes his students will gain a deepened appreciation for the richness of Chinese history, and a better understanding of

current events. Mr. Rosengarten also hopes to take advantage of local Chinese culture and cultural events as they present themselves, which may make for some great field trip opportunities!

Though the class is still in development, he hopes to have a combination of projects and tests.

Some of the other wonderful new classes in the history department next year include Women in 20th Century America (Kelley Graham), Resistance and Reconciliation I and II (Ariel Eure & Layla Helwa), and the History of Architecture (Joel Dankoff), which will break into two courses, the first semester being World Architecture Advanced, and the second being Philadelphia Architecture Non-Advanced.

MATH DEPARTMENT Economics - Greg Klein Mr. Klein’s new class, Economics, is a course aimed at providing students with the language and knowledge to engage in conversations about finances. This class will include a great amount of data interpretation through graphics and will be more conceptual as opposed to problem-solving based. Mr. Klein hopes to touch on both micro and macro economics, and the supply and demand relationships between these two forces. This class will include a large presentation component in order for students to apply their understanding to situations around them. There will also

be a testing component in order to show whether or not the student knows and understands the terms and concepts. This class will allow its students to find ways that economics presents itself in society, exposing the hidden causes of events, and consider how people respond to incentives. Overall, if you’re interested in how the production, distribution, and consumption of commodities work, Economics may be the class for you!

I invite you to take advantage of Friends’ Central’s many new classes and learning opportunities as they join our elective choices and curriculum next year. Keep in mind that when a teacher teaches a specific aspect or branch of their subject, it is likely something that they love to teach and take great interest in. This will undoubtedly raise the quality of your learning and class experience. I hope these in-depth descriptions of some of the many new classes being offered next year are of great help and guidance to you!

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FCS IN PHOTOS 2016 Prom

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Seniors and Kindergartners

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