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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Friends Meeting School community. We are a non-profit, independent day school with programs from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Friends Meeting School prepares students to be “citizens of the world” by:

• Serving the needs of students who thrive in interactive, nurturing and challenging small classes;

• Providing experiential learning, inside and outside the classroom;

• Demonstrating the power of community service and activism;

• Emphasizing the Quaker ideals of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship;

• Celebrating cultural, economic, academic, social and religious di-versity.

Our vigorous academic schedule is supported by the grounding that comes from taking time for inward reflection, along with time for daily physical activity to help students better channel their energy. Honors and Advanced Placement classes are balanced with a wealth of artistic opportunities, so creativity and self-expression can develop alongside a thirst for knowledge. Our Independent Study program, where students have the op-portunity to learn the subjects that appeal most to them, teaches them self-motivation and self-reliance along the way.

Our graduates are accepted into a wide variety of well-known higher educa-tion institutions, such as American University, New York University, Sarah Lawrence College, University of Maryland, and many more.

Our vision is for students to thrive academically, celebrate the rich diversity of our planet, and courageously go forth to build a more just world. Please consider joining this unique school community.

In Peace,

Mara Y. Nicastro Head of School

TABLE OF CONTENTS

From the Head of School ........................................................ 2

Peace and Quiet ....................................................................... 4

What Friends Schools Do ....................................................... 4

Friends Meeting School At A Glance .................................... 6

Our Program ............................................................................. 8

Lower School ............................................................................ 9

Middle School ......................................................................... 10

High School ............................................................................. 11

Recent College Acceptances ............................................... 13

High School Course Offerings ............................................. 14

Come As You Are .................................................................. 15

Extra Support ......................................................................... 16

An Inner Truth ........................................................................ 17

A Friend-ly Tradition ............................................................. 18

Service and Stewardship ...................................................... 18

Admissions Policy .................................................................. 19

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PEACE AND QUIET

It’s a noisy world these days. Screens and fleeting interactions substitute for real connection, while shouting and name-calling fill in for high dis-course. News is only news if it can sell ads, and cat videos get more views than any good deed.

Far away from the hustle and bustle, amid the rolling hills between Freder-ick and Montgomery County, Annette Breiling built a learning community devoted to the Friends ideals of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship. 50 acres of natural beauty greet our students every single day, and offer a peaceful backdrop for joyful learning.

WHAT FRIENDS SCHOOLS DO § Learn through inquiry, reflection, and action in daily life. § Search for truth, valuing the challenge of competing ideas. § Resolve conflicts through respecting and listening to each other. § Value and embrace the diversity of cultures and religions in our

communities. § Work for the good of society through active service learning. § Act courageously in alignment with core moral beliefs.

(From Friends Council on Education: Celebrating 325 years of Friends Education).

Thank you, thank you, thank you for inspiring and educating my children. I had hoped to find a

school one day where my children enjoyed learning. There had to be a place that could integrate the head and the heart when educating. As my son

said in his 8th grade graduation speech,

“Thank you, Mom and Dad. You finally found it.”

-Parents from New Market, MD

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FRIENDS MEETING SCHOOL AT A GLANCE

Location Ijamsville, MD is centrally located, 15-20 minutes from Frederick, Germantown, and Mt. Airy.

School Hours Classes from 7:55am-3:20pm. Extended Care available from 7:15-7:55am, and from 3:20-6:00pm.

Student Body 80-100 boys and girls, grades Pre-K through 12.

Student/Faculty Ratio 6:1, with an average class size of 8-10 students/classroom

College Placement 100% of our seniors have been accepted to four-year colleges or universi-ties; the class of 2015 was awarded an average of $30,000/student in schol-arships. See page 13 for a sampling of recent colleges that have accepted our students.

Athletics Physical Education classes for Grades 1-10; all students grades 6-12 invited to participate in interscholastic sports, regardless of experience or ability. See Page 15 for more information.

Arts Music and art classes begin in Pre-Kindergarten and continue through grade 12; diverse musical, acting, and fine arts opportunities persist throughout the school career, culminating in the annual Community Play at the Wein-berg Center in Frederick, MD. See page 14 for course offerings.

Technology High-speed, high-quality WiFi, several connected SMART boards, multiple computers in most classrooms and one dedicated computer lab.

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Leadership Opportunities Our Student Government Association features two students from each grade, and has a massive impact on student life every year. In addition, all students are invited to create, lead and participate in whatever clubs and organizations they feel called to. Some sample clubs can be found on page 14.

Service All grades participate in community service inside and outside the school. 75 hours are required between grades 9-12 for graduation. See page 18 for more information.

Facilities Three distinct buildings house all classes:

• Founders Hall, home of the Lower School, features large class-room spaces and an immense All-Purpose Room.

• Chelsea Hall hosts the science and advanced Math classrooms, with a flexible Science Lab, while upstairs, Tom’s Loft offers plen-ty of natural light and calming design to help students stay focused while learning.

• Breiling Hall features a world-class gymnasium and sports field, (utilized often on evenings and weekends by top-level regional sports teams), as well as a Music & Theatre room with a large stage, and four spacious classrooms.

Outside, we offer 50 acres on which to learn, featuring:

• A creek, hosting outdoor environmental & biology labs • An outdoor classroom & meeting area in the woods • A well-maintained sports field, with nearby Ga-ga pit • Raised, organic garden beds • Butterfly garden • A 5-kilometer cross-country track through forests, meadows, farms

and fields • A flagship playground, to bring joy & challenge to kids ages 2-12

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MIND • Honors-Level Academics • Small Classes • Individual Attention • Dynamic Discussions • Enriching Field Trips

BODY • Time Outdoors • Daily Gym/Field Time • Phys.Ed. until Grade 10 • Upper School Athletics • Walks between classes

on campus grounds

SPIRIT • Intentional Silence • Fine & Performing Arts focus from PK-12 • Peaceful Conflict Management • Quaker Vocabulary & Discussions • Positive Discipline • Integrated Service & Stewardship

OUR PROGRAM There are three pillars of growth: Mind, Body, and Spirit. When any one of these is nurtured to the exclusion of others, children grow up with an unstable foundation. But when all three are brought together and given equal weight, students have a sturdy base from which to reach higher than ever before.

Friends Meeting School develops this “whole child,” supporting vigorous aca-demics with physical, social and values-based curricula to produce well-rounded citizens of the planet.

Small classes, of 15 students or less, allow teachers to individualize their lesson plans, meeting each child where they start and keeping them engaged at the highest level of their ability. Responsive Classroom techniques, along with differentiated instruction, allow students to take more responsibility for their learning and find joy in each new discovery.

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THE COMMUNITY

RULE • Respect myself. • Respect others.

• Respect my environment.

LOWER SCHOOL

A STRONG FOUNDATION

A child’s first school experi-ences shape a lifetime of learn-ing. If they’re unhappy in school, their early academic goals wither, creating an obstacle that takes years to overcome. But if they love what they’re doing, and love going to school, they’ll develop great habits and goals that last a lifetime.

Kids will be kids, and need to experience childhood to the fullest. In the early years, we offer play-based lessons to give children the experience of success and joy in learning, building habits that serve them well as lessons grow more and more academic through the years.

Our small classes allow each student to develop individually, with the personal attention they each deserve. High standards ensure progress, and students who exceed their grade level in a subject regularly join the higher grades.

Outside the classroom, our 54-acre campus has become a learning laboratory. Students explore firsthand the flora and fauna that are attracted to our wide range of outdoor features:

• Butterfly Garden

• Raised-Bed Organic Garden

• Nature Trails

• Creek

• Forest

• Farmland

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MIDDLE SCHOOL

A SMOOTH TRANSITION Middle School can be rough on parents, but it’s harder on the kids. This rollercoaster between childhood and adulthood transforms students in countless ways, giving rise to ever-changing concerns and priorities.

Friends Meeting School recognizes this transitional period, helping students flow back and forth be-tween the Lower School and high-er expectations. 5th & 6th graders still have time to play outdoors and attend field trips with the 3rd & 4th graders. 7th & 8th graders act as

Reading, Math and Gardening Buddies to the younger students, while tak-ing high school-level Math and Science classes.

This is also the age when students de-cide how they fit into the world around them. To help them with this process, our Middle School classes take field trips to community service centers, neighborhood businesses, mu-seums, and nature centers.

While our students develop their academic skills, our curriculum helps them build a broad base of interests, talents, skills and experience from which to draw as they go on in life.

• Spanish, Physical Education, Art, Drama and Music are important components of each student’s schedule.

• Morning and afternoon Homeroom meetings actively promote team-building and self-reflection, and organization.

• The Middle School Portfolio, where students collect their best work, and present it annually to their advisor and parents, is a cor-nerstone of our program.

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HIGH SCHOOL

A VIGOROUS PREPARATION The data is clear: over the past decades, colleges have become the gateway to a life full of options, freedom and monetary success. Certain doors are opened only through a degree from a respectable university. But success at college depends on one thing – a focused, holistic preparation for the trials and tribulations of college life.

And Friends Meeting School offers an experience that prepares students to overcome whatever college throws their way.

Academics At the college level, lectures and discussions are notorious for their rigor. If a child is unprepared for the length of listening or the depth of the topic, the class can pass them by. But once they’ve been through our vigorous Honors- and AP-Level classes, the students at Friends Meeting School have experienced a level of academia found only at other top-tier institutions.

Teamwork & Leadership Our high school students take the lead on all our school projects. From the Haunted Trail to the Community Play, from the Yearbook to our sports teams, the students lead (or assist directly) the projects from start to finish. Students must juggle all the aspects of these productions, and learn firsthand how to keep every cog functioning properly.

Technology Understanding technology isn’t just about knowing how to use it, but knowing when to use it. Friends Meeting School offers courses in programming, circuitry, robotics, and more, but also offers classes where personal screens are not permitted. This diverse range of technological expo-sure prepares students for the wide array of rules and expectations at the college and business levels.

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Independent Learning & Self-Motivation The Friends Meeting School Independent Study/Internship Program requires our high school students to complete two full credits of study on their own. Whether taking an online course or creating their own path of study, our students learn what it means to take the reins of their own schooling and motivate themselves to accomplish what they set out to do.

Ethical and Moral Decisions Social challenges exist, even among the tight-knit community at Friends Meeting School. But here, unlike at large schools, students can’t hide from their problems – it’s in their best interest to deal with them. Our social cur-riculum and experienced advisors help each student to make their own de-cisions on how to interact, and peer mediations give them experience with peaceful conflict resolution.

Creative Arts Arts play a huge role in Friends Meeting School students’ lives. Classes such as Music, Drama, Painting, Photography, and even Set Design and Wood-working benefit students’ public speaking and self-expression, and boost their aptitude to communicate in any medium. Our drama & music curricu-la culminate each year in the Community Play, a musical performed annual-ly at the Weinberg Center for the Arts in downtown Frederick.

Service & Stewardship Friends Meeting School wants to gradu-ate students who are understanding, in-sightful, and supportive citizens, so stu-dents must achieve and document at least 75 hours of service before gradua-tion.

College Counseling Throughout their high school career, Friends Meeting School students will work closely with the teacher of their choosing to look ahead to post-graduation plans, preparing goals and assisting with the college selection and application process. In addition, our on-staff College Counselor will help all our seniors with college decisions, and ensure that the final steps of the college admission process are completed in a timely manner.

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RECENT COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

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HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OFFERINGS Note: Not all courses are offered every year.

Science & Technology Archaeology Astronomy Biology Chemistry Circuitry Computer Technology 1-3 AP Environmental Science Experimental Physics Field Ecology History of the Earth Programming 1&2: Raspberry Pi Psychology Physics AP Physics I Robotics I&II

Mathematics Pre-Algebra Algebra I&II Geometry Pre-Calculus AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC

Fine & Performing Arts Chorus Drama Studies Drama of Shakespeare Drawing & Painting I&II Guitar History of Film Improvisation Instrumental Studies Music Ensembles Music Technology Orchestra Performing Arts Photography Sculpture Theatre Set Design World Music

Languages Spanish I-IV Ind. Study in Language

English American Literature Journalism Literature & Composition Professional Writing Scriptwriting Senior Literature Shakespeare World Literature Social Studies Bioethics Civics Current Events Eastern World History Ethics AP Human Geography Latin-American Studies Monuments and Inventions Mythology Quakerism Sociology Tribal Cultures U.S. History World History AP World History

Business & Skills Life Skills Marketing Physical Education Public Speaking Woodshop

Clubs & Extracurriculars A Cappella Be The Change Community Play G.L.O.W. Haunted Trail National Honors Society Yearbook

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COME AS YOU ARE Friends Meeting School actively looks for students of all creeds, back-grounds, styles, and demographics. Our lack of uniformity, of clothes or of thought, encourages students to express their own truths visually, verbally, and in any other way that their lives can speak.

FALCONS ATHLETICS The Friends Meeting School “Come As You Are” philosophy extends to our athletics program, where attending practice is the only prerequisite for playing. Some teams are co-educational and grades 5-12, while others are single-gender (depending on enrollment) and depend on age.

Students at all experience and talent levels work at improving their athletic confidence, and our less-than-stringent practice schedule allows plenty of time for club sports, dance, and other pursuits offered elsewhere. In recent years, our athletes have taken part in the following sports:

• Soccer • Cross-Country • Boys’ Basketball • Girls’ Basketball • Volleyball

• Track & Field

I owe Friends Meeting School quite a lot. The school not only prepared me emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially for the college climate but also helped to shape me into who I am today through caring and dedicated teaching and a strong ideol-ogy of what the school environment should encompass. I am so very thankful for the unique experiences that I received by at-tending Friends School and credit much of my success now to the foundations laid during my years there.

-Aislinn Gherman, class of ‘13

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EXTRA SUPPORT No two students learn the same way. Some are visual learners; others are auditory. Some children grew up speaking English; others did not. Some are overwhelmed with anxiety; others are too excited about the future to focus in the moment. Whatever their background, Friends Meeting School meets each student where they start and builds a foundation for success.

Student Learning Plans Our version of IEPs or 504 plans, these SLPs help the teachers unite to ensure that each student who has been independently assessed gets the ac-commodations they require.

English Language Learning Every Friends Meeting School student needs to be able to converse in Eng-lish and process classes taught in English; but not every student will be on the same level. For those who learned a different language first, we offer an ELL course to fill in language gaps.

On-site Tutoring Friends Meeting School has entire rooms set aside where tutors who have been hired by parents can join students on-site and get them through their trickiest coursework in the atmosphere where they’re used to learning.

“My teacher [at FMS] supported me when I was having trouble in school and made me fall in love with education.”

-Sveta Martz, class of ‘15

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AN INNER TRUTH For 325 years, the Religious Society of Friends (the “Quakers”) have been developing coeducational schools in America, with the simple philosophy that every child, no matter what their background or circumstances, has their own story to tell – their own truth to speak – and that schools are a perfect place to learn how to find and communicate such a vision.

As people of a certain age have learned over and over, true fulfillment comes from within. No external gauge can measure whether people are content, and no book can tell us how to be happy. We are only truly satis-fied when we do the best we can do, and when we are the best we can be.

A fundamental belief of the Friends tradition is that there is “that of God” in each of us. At Friends Meeting School, this is brought to the surface by our intention that each student comes to us as they are, and with the goal of increasing that self-knowledge at every opportunity.

Our school’s philosophy includes the idea that every person can be right at the same time, and the only time we’re not right is when we’re not being our-selves. There is plenty of room for vastly differing opinions, and when stu-dents are taught curiosity rather than close-mindedness—inquiry, not intol-erance—they are free to expand and enhance their opinions without fear.

Seeking this Inner Truth is the highest quest for Quakers, and a lofty goal indeed. Such a Truth is ever changing, and never obvious. But the reward of speaking from a place of that Truth is so profound and life-altering that we believe it to be a quest worth having, every day of our lives.

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A FRIEND-LY TRADITION Friends Meeting School cherishes Inner understanding as much as it does External knowledge. The Quaker tradition of Meeting for Worship, a 30-minute meeting that focuses on a specific theme reflecting our universal values, helps students and teachers alike find their center, ground their spir-it, and secure their foundation. Participants sit in a circle of intentional si-lence, and some may be moved to speak or perform music. At Friends Meeting School, all classes gather weekly for Meeting for Worship, and four times each year we gather as a whole community.

SERVICE AND STEWARDSHIP Because Friends believe that faith requires action in the world, our school encourages a caring Community, social Responsibility, and Service. Wheth-er caring for our school grounds, serving the local community, or even traveling abroad, age-appropriate service is a part of each student’s experi-ence. Recently, our students have demonstrated their commitment to ser-vice through:

• Growing fruits & vegetables for the Frederick County Foodbank • Making Pinwheels to raise funds for Syrian Refugees • Performing on the Haunted Trail to raise scholarship funds • Performing in Actors for the Community to raise food and money

for the hungry • Completing Eagle Scout projects on campus to beautify the school

and enhance the program • Volunteering at the Frederick County Health Fair to support citi-

zens without Health Care • Enrolling in internships at NIH, hospitals, and animal shelters • Hosting bake sales to raise funds to protect the world’s rainforests • Promoting awareness of the use of Palm Oil and its effects on the

environment • Traveling to Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, and elsewhere to perform

service as part of the global communities • Entering our campus into the “Healthy Forests, Healthy Waters”

initiative of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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ADMISSIONS POLICY Friends Meeting School seeks students who:

• will contribute positively to the school community, • can succeed academically, and

• have families that support the values of the school.

Friends Meeting School actively seeks a diversity of backgrounds and tal-ents among its students and staff, and every admitted student receives all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions and financial aid policies, staff hiring, athletics, nor any other school-administered programs.

Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as space is available and the applicant appears to be a good match for the school. Priority consideration in admissions is given to applications received by February 15 of the preceding school year, but students may enroll following that date.

Children must be four years old (or older) as of September 1 to be eligible for Pre-Kindergarten, and five years old as of the same date to be eligible for Kindergarten. Parents/Guardians may request an exception for early entrance to our Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten programs for any child with a birthday that falls before January 1, and a decision for early entrance will be based on the child’s maturity and academic readiness. The school generally does not encourage early placement but recognizes that different children mature at different rates. Special consideration in admissions and financial aid is given to Quakers, families of current students & staff, and children who bring unique perspectives to the school’s population.

Teachers and staff work in true partnership with the parents to create the best educational experience for our children. The sense of community they have fostered at Friends Meeting School is quite unique, and can be felt and seen immediately when you visit the school.

-Parents in Gaithersburg, MD

S E E K A N D S P E A K T R U T H A N D L O V E