SSFS: 1990s - Expanding into a PK-12 School by Linda Sulkin, LS teacher since 1993 In 1990, my daughter was a rising senior at SSFS, having been there since seventh grade. We had come to love the school, and as a result, we decided to send her two brothers, who would both be in Middle School. During the summer, the Middle School went through a renovation in order to add a sixth grade to the division. They expanded the downstairs, adding a two-story lobby entrance, classrooms, and an office. 14 students were in the first sixth grade class that year, including my youngest son.
Head of School Stephen Gessner (middle) reviews a model of the proposed Science Wing addition to Yarnall with Upper School Science teacher Doug Smith and Middle School Science teacher Toni Evans.
Annette Breiling with Brook Moore at the opening of the Lower School at SSFS.
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Being clerk of the Parent Association, I was involved in the search for a new headmaster the following year, which brought the arrival of Stephen Gessner (whose title was henceforth known as Head of School). Each year, the parents were involved in organizing and running a white elephant sale at the May Fair, which was held on campus every spring, with the proceeds going to financial aid. We lobbied to take the auction off-campus and include dinner to make it more of an evening of entertainment. This finally happened in February 1992. The auction theme was called "Breaking the Ice." It was held at the Holiday Inn in Columbia, and everyone was thrilled when we raised over $10,000. The money went toward new computers for the Upper School lab, and a new tradition was established. The big news in 1993 was the arrival of Friends Elementary School on campus. Friends Elementary was a small Quaker school that rented space in Walbrooke, with the idea that it would merge with SSFS to form a SSFS Community News