This year, Leading: The James Turrell Skyspace has become even more deeply woven into daily life at Friends—serving as a sanctuary, a classroom, and a point of connection with the wider world. Friends’ commitment to sharing the Skyspace beyond our own community also continues to grow. Public ticketed programs regularly sell out, with guests traveling from across the city—and beyond—to experience Turrell’s exploration of light and perception. Schools, colleges, and cultural in

The Parents Association is dedicated to building community across all areas of the school. This year’s PA-sponsored Tech Talks  initiative is no exception. Tech Talks brings this spirit to increasing shared knowledge and understanding of the impact of technology on young people. It recognizes that navigating technology is not just a matter of rules and restrictions, but a shared and ongoing process of discernment. Tech Talks include divisional and grade level sessions for Gra

Grade 4 students recently created a striking installation of sculpted hands, each one unique in shape and gesture, yet unified in a radiant rainbow—a visual metaphor for community, allyship, and the power of collective action. This interdisciplinary art and ethics project, led by Lower School Visual Arts teacher Andrea Aimi, invites students to reflect on a core Quaker tenet: community. The process begins with observational drawings of their own hands—carefully studied for sh

On a sunny and mild November day Grade 8 English students visited Central Park to retrace the steps of Holden, the protagonist and narrator of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. They visited a few of the book's iconic sites like the steps of the American Museum of Natural History, the duck pond and the carousel. The objective was to expand their understanding of the text by imagining what it is like to be Holden. One student commented, “Maybe Holden was grumpy because it

The Friends Seminary Library is always evolving to meet students where they are—and one of the most engaging tools in our collection today is Sora , a digital library platform that brings reading to students’ fingertips anytime, anywhere. This fall, Lower School students dove into the world of digital reading through a playful activity called Sora Bingo. Designed by Librarian Megan Gaffney, the bingo board introduced children to the many interactive features Sora offers—searc

In Maya Wainhaus’ Grade 5 Art class, Friends students are discovering how still images can become vivid, meaningful stories through the art of stop-motion animation. Working in small groups, they transform pipe cleaners, paper cutouts, everyday objects—and sometimes even their own bodies—into characters and props. From storyboarding to filming, students practice the craft of visual storytelling, exploring pacing, perspective, and sequence, and experimenting with music, voiceo

Friends recently welcomed five intrepid exchange students from Colegio Sant Ignasi in Barcelona, Spain—marking the third year of this global connection between the two schools. During their three-week stay, 10th graders Beth, Lucía, Pau, Cloe, and Rita immersed themselves in the life of Friends: attending classes, engaging in school activities, and sharing meals and traditions with their Friends host families. Throughout their visit, the students experienced the vibrancy of N

This fall, the Class of 2029 traveled to Club Getaway in Kent, CT, for the Ninth Grade Retreat, a long-standing Friends tradition that helps students begin Upper School grounded in connection and care. Over two days, ninth graders were immersed in activities and games that strengthened teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and positive group dynamics. Students returned to 16th Street having laid the groundwork for a strong, connected, and supportive class identity—one tha

Conversations about equity, access, and community have long been central to a Friends education. This fall, that work continued as Upper School students, guided by the Diversity, Equity and Belonging Committee and the Socioeconomic Diversity Club, devoted a full week to exploring socioeconomic identity and financial aid with curiosity and care. Through advisory discussions, Meeting for Worship, and a student-led conversation with Director of Financial Aid Sam Margles, student